Evening star., 1934-05-06
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH
In ORIENT DISAPPEARING
Future of Foreign Trade Is Dark, as
Nations There Follow World Trend
to Self-Sufficiency.

| cry "Duy at nome everywhere
pulling in. a lettering of business
with regulations, tariffs, taxes, pro-
hibitions! The gay old poker game
of international trade breaking up;
the nations going in for solitaire!
1t may not be making for another
world war, although the French out
here tell you that it is, struggling
their shoulders, ordering another
aperitif, and giving the tariffs an
extra hike. It may not mean war;
but it certainly is not conducive to
the rapid extension of international
trade. 1t does not add to the imme-
diate attractiveness of the Orient as
a place for an ambitious young man.
Let me wind up with two ideas
that come to one who makes a jour-
ney such as am passing through.
First, it is absurd that American
schools teach nothing of Oriental
history, philosophy and life. We
spend years on the history and litera-
ture of Greece and Rome, which one
of us knows even the geography Of
this eastern half of the world.
Arc there 10 islands in the Philip
pines, or 100. or 1000, or 5000? Does
the Japanese Empire stretch 100 miles
from end to end, or $500 miles or
5000? Which city is Manila nearest
Honolulu. Hongkong or Toxic?
Shanghai and Singapore each begins
with IS" which is which and where
are they?
K'ang- -Hsi Strongest Ruler.
One can be graduated from an
American college without knowing the
answers to these questions. AS for
Chinese literature, japanese history
or the teachings of Confucius and
Buddha, what are we told of any of
these?
Prof. Kenneth S. Latourette of
Yale recently pointed out that the
most powerful monarch at the end
of the seventeenth century and the
beginning of the eighteenth was not
Louis XIV but K'ang-Hsi, and that
Kang-Hsi was probably much better
educated and abler than Louis; while
DR.. Lewis Hodus of Hartford Semi
nary Foundation makes the interest
ing comment that before AID. 1750
more books we're published in the
Chinese language than in all other
languages combined
1t is true, of course, that the
American curriculum is already over
crowded. But we must know more
about the East, whether we like it or
not. The East is going to be on the
front pages. Situations are developing
forces are at work that cannot be de-
MED They involve the future of
whatever foreign trade we may hope
to do; they may involve our whole
national life.
The second impression I am bring
ing home is that we must keep our
naval and air defense strong. For me
to write this involves something of
struggle; I have been always an ad
vocate of disarmament. I believe now
that the only foreign policy which Is
any good is one that is based on a
frank recognition of realities.
When we write notes to Japan and
are prepared to do nothing about
them We do not help China. We sue
ceed merely in making ourselves
ridiculous. We lose face throughout
the East.
Roosevelt Is Respected.
When We assume that we have
some sort of vague mission of moral
leadership" in world diplomacy we
are merely laughed at secretly-and
not so secretly. either-by the very
realistic diplomats of the other ma
tionS.
President Roosevelt, whatever his
shortcomings, is respected by the
representatives of the rest Of the
world. He has made America re-
spected. They understood policy
which says frankly: I'VE intend to
look after our own situation first,
and keep ourselves strong" They do
not understand the kind Of muddle
of idealism and business interest with
which we have attempted to deal with
them in the past.
For the time being, at least, it
seems clear we must look to our home
market for the bulk of our prosperity.
And look to the demonstration Of our
ability to rule our own house and
protect our own interests-rather
than to any well-intentioned med
ding in other peoples affairs-for
our international leadership.
| Copyright. 1894. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. 1nc.)