The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-28
JAPANESE RULE
IN CHINA HARMS
COTTON IN u. S.
Territory Can Fill Nearly
All Fiber Demand OF +.
Tokyo.
BBNEA Fcrtjce

japanese control over the north
ern provinces Of China may turn
out to be another staggering blow at
the already groggy cotton growing
industry IN the United States.
No two persons would seem farth-
er apart than the Southern share
chopper and the Japanese soldier
stationed at the Manchukuan Dor
der No two are, in distance. But
there is a close connection, never
theless.
Whatever degree OF political con-
troll Japan gets over North China.
there is no question at all that she
soon will dominate he region eco
nomically. And tbs means access
to development of region that can
produce within a few years all the
raw cotton Japan needs except for
the very highest grades.
The provinces of Shansi, Hopei
(ChuhlD. and Shantung are all cot
ton-growing regions. Maj. Gen. |
KenJi Doihara, "the Lawrence Of
Manchuria who smoothed the
Japanese path into Manchukuo be- !
fore the troops occupied it, and who !
has been active in fomenting the |
sepsratist move in North China, has
been urging for sometime that
japanese cotton experts be brought
in, 1t Is more than likely that they |
are already there.
Double Blow at u. :,
Remember that japanese cotton
concessions in Ethiopia we're
brought to light when the Italian !
adventure there was begun That |
is how eager Japan is to develop its |
own sources of raw cotton.
II the North China fields could |
be made to yield large part Of the |
cotton Japan now imports from the !
United States, it could be taken |
cheaply to Japan and made there
into piece goods.
These could be sold in China and |
the East even more cheaply than |
the present Japanese cotton cloth.
which is regarded as a trade menace
by both the United States and |
Great Britain. Thus the United
States would suffer not only loss Of
a great market for raw cotton. but
further loss Of markets for exported
cotton cloth.
Great Iron Industry
But there Is more in the coveted
f1ve provinces than potential cotton
fields. In Shansi is the oldest iron
industry in the world, which has
been producing iron for 1000 years
That is because the province con-
tains that combination of coal and
iron ore that has produced all the
iron and steel CenterS of the world
ShanSi has more than half the
total coal deposits In China and
while they are not among the great
coal fields Of the world, they are
more than sufficient to support local
needs for years. Iron ore reserves
are estimated at 300 million tons, an
item calculated to make Japanese
mouths water in country which
has been buying up old ships for
scrap iron.
Japan already controls 30 per cent
Of the usuable iron resources IN
China, anyway, through invest
ments.
Hopei Largely Agricultural
Hopei is largely an agricultural
region, whose rice and soy beans
might we'll come in handy Tor
crowded Japan, and center for the
raising Of horses, mules, and other
livestock. Chahar Is agricultural,
hut also has iron ore reserves.
In all this region, during the last
few years. Japan has been Wangnhg
trade advantages in the way Oh
tariffs AND concessions. Ihese
northern provinces, in which Japan
is now trying to foment a secession
movement. are relatively progressive
for China.
In Shansi. for instance, the only |
concerted effort at reforestation has |
been made to combat the barrennesS |
China has brought on herself by de-
stroying her forest cover japanese
railway lines, with one eye on open
ing the interior up to trade with the
coast and with Manchukuo, and the |
other on possible war with Russia,
probably would be welcomed.
German Traces Retained
Shantung especially retains traces |
Of the German occupation OF before !
the World War in its modern build |
ings and railroads.
And Of course opening wider a
market for exports among the |
nearly 10O0o0,0O0 people living in
the five provinces is an incentive.
From the political point of view
the japanese object is clear. These |
nrovinces complete territorial |
wedge between China and Russia,
and include strategic centers, such
as Kalgan, which cut off the land
route between China proper and
Russia.
Mongolia Hemmed In
They tend to hem in outer Mon
golia, in which Russia is playing
the same game of peaceful pene-
tration" that always precedes the
japanese military moves, and TO
separate 1t from the Chinese Soviets
In KiangSi and Human.
But the chances are that mar
kets. coal. iron and cotton weight
heavier on Japanese minds than
political and military advantages.
Last year, for instance, Japan
sent four times as much goods to
Manchuria as to China proper and
for the first time exported more
goods to Manchuria than 10 the
United States.
Similar development In the five
northern provinces is the japanese
aim.
CENTENNIAL RECALLS