The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-07
BY r. DOoNPING


is Japan the protector or the OPP
L preSSor of the colored peoples in
the Far East? Are the japanese
imperialiStS less reactionary and
murderouS than United States,
British and other imperialists in
their savage oppression of the Ne
gro and colonial masses?
Were it not for the vicious CAM
paign of the Negro reformists in
tAa United States on behalf of
Japanese imperialism, we could dis
pense with the seemingly super
fluous task of answering this ques-
ton. The oppressive role of Japa-
nese imperialism in the Far East
is SO much an everyday expert
ence to the masses Of these coun-
tries that merely to ask such
question would generally be consid-
cred ridiculous. But conditions in
the Far East, the principal theatre
of Japanese imperialist adventures,
are only family known to the
American Negro masses.
JAPANS RECORD
Situated on the western con-
tinent, groaning under a monstrous
national oppression at the hands
of dollar imperialism, the American
Negroes have not experienced di-
rectly the biting effects of japanese
imperialism. Taking advantage of
this situation, the Negro reformists
set out on a campaign to fool the
Negro masses. In defiance of the
most glazing truth and indisputable
facts of contemporary Far Eastern
economic and political life, these
apologiStS of japanese imperialism
shamelessly acclaim the japanese
imperialists as the protector of the
colored colonial peoples from white
oppression!
Japan'S record as protector"
explOiter and OppressOr in Korea
and FormoSa, colonies of Japan
inhabitated by the same race as
the Japanese, provides an excel
lent illustration of the universal
fact that common blood is no
protector from capitalist eXploita-
ton and that class and not race
is the decisive factor in Socio-
economic relationship.
VOREA was an ancient kingdom,
N somewhat bigger than New
England and twice as densely pop
ulated by highly cultured people.
Conveniently situated on the coast
of Asia just across the sea from
Japan, it was the first important
country to be absorbed by Japanese
imperialism when the latter
stretched its ugly claws for con-
quest on the Asiatic continent in
1895. Japan pursued the same tao
tics which are now being repeated
in Manchuria; to organize first a
puppet state in the name of indie
pendence; then, at suitable
moment, to convert the "inde-
pendent" state into an outright
colony of japanese Imperialism. In
the case of Korea, the first step
was taken in 1895 after defeating
China, the then suzerain power
over Korea, in the o-JapaneSe
War, when the country was occu-
pied by Japanese troops, and its
government was put under the
management of Japanese officials,
though the Korean Emperor still
remained theoretically sovereign
and independent. In 1910, with the
express consent of President Theo-
dore Roosevelt of the United States,
the annexation Of Korea by the
Japanese Empire was formally an
pounced.
The methods and detectives Of
Japanese imperialism economic
penetration, intensive exploitation,
brutal military invasion and con-
quest are the same as those of
American imperialism and i'm
perialist powers everywhere.
The history of japanese exploita-
ton in Korea constitutes one of the
worst chapters in the story of i'm
perialist barbarism. The Korean
population is denied the most ele-
mentary rights. The country is
ruled by terror against the mass
of the people and bribery of Sec
ton Of native landlords and capt.
talists. The heroic rebellion Of
1919 was ruthlessly suppressed by
mass murder. The miserable con-
cessions that we're made after the
suppression of the movement were
soon withdrawn. Even meetings of
legal organizations are frequently
broken up. Mass arrests, inhunan
torture and the use Of proyocateurs
are common occurrences in Korea.
An increasingly large number Of
police and soldiers arc stationed in
the country to keep the population
under close surveillance.
Having had the Korean popuIs-