Milford chronicle., 1935-02-08

/ SlOus pfOtlueQ II IS cOuMueu 70 VIVA
Japan regards as her sphere Of IN,
Eluehee.
The third issue underlying the
! Pacific question concerns the ex-
pansion Of Japan's exports. Be.
tween 1881 and ] 1913, Japan increased
her world expoits Of rayOn in Yen
by over 3O0S5, in wooden yarns By
over 5O0gS, and wOolen piece goods
by nearly 5000. In 1888, her ek-
ports to Africa and South America
more than doubled; while her ex-
ports to Australia we're nearly three
times as great. These marked In
creases in a period when the trade
of the United States and Great Brit
ian has only partly recovered, have
been due to low cost of production
and to the depreciation OF the yen.
Wages are low in Japan, and work
ers average between 55 and SO hours
a week. The most important factor
in increasing Japan's exports seems
to have been the depreciation OF
the currency, below the levels at
tanned in the other two countries.
Customers now find that generally
speaking, they can buy goods more
cheaply from Japan than from the
United States and Great Britain.
Japan's trade expansion has injured
certain producers In the British En-
pire and the United States, and these
governments have taken certain
steps to erect political barriers
against 1t.
AS for the United States, one of
the incidental purposes of a recent
trade agreement with Cuba was to
increase the American preference on
electric light bulbs and other prod
ucts in Cuba so as to put an end. to
japanese domination of this market. |
Thus. the third issue in the Pa
ci6c is whether the United States |
and Great Britain are to remain in
active when confronted by the de-
probation of the yen and the ex-
Danslon VI japanese goods in the
territories at one time controlled |
BY American ana British merchants;
u whether they are to seek a cur
'ency agreement with Japan; or
rect new barriers to Japanese i'm
PORTS.
Some observers believe that
through her exports Japan has
Weapon with which she may oblige
he British to acquiesce to her pO-
itical demands.
The inability to settle the main is
ues presented here has led to sit !
alton in the Pacific which has been
effected. in the increased military
nd naval expenditure on the part {
( all three powers. While since
919, military expenditures by Great I
,ritain have increased only about I
1To, those Of the United States have {
lcreasei nearly 20OTc, and Japan I
early 4009t Japan -justiIies her J
ctiytt.cS in Manchuria on the !
round that China cannot maintain d
Il orderly and honest administra-
on She contends that the people
Manchuria today are. far better
I and more cOntented. than when
lder Chinese rule. Japan insists
AT she did not violate any inter- O
ltiOnaI engagement III occupying fl
linese territory or iii recognizing c
anchuria. i
As 10 trade expansion, japan coli L
nds that She is justified in depre- S
lting her currency as i'm England o
the United States, and that her s
ide gain makes possible an in n
ease i'm Japanese purchases from
lgland and the United. States, and
ables customers all over the world
buy goods which at higher prices
sy would otherwise have TO gOi
thout.
Having successfully defined the
ague aud the United States. ii in
tably follows that Japan should
nand Naval parity with England
1 the United States for reasons Of
,stige.
The policy followed by the Hoover
/ Roosevelt administrations in the
r East Is logical continuation
the principles adopted by the
tied States many years ago. Our
lntry has been unwilling to sign
reaty granting Japan parity. It
contention that the
3 ratio actually gave Japan su-
macy in Eastern waters. Should
lty be conceded. the United States ,
ing TO maintain a feet in both :
Atlantic and the Pacific, would I
forced into position of in
Ority.
'ntil the end. of the Hoover adj !
this country did not .
'mpt to influence Japan by mill =
? construction. Thus the United b
tcs failed to build up to the levels :
horized by the Washington and
don NavalAgreements. With the
ent Of TIE Roosevelt administra- P
J, however. the situation changed
National Industry Recovery Act
lOrized the use of $23S, ,O0O,0 900 of
Public Works Bond Issue for
al construction. In the spring II
1884, Congress authorized. the =
of 102 vessels. together
! an unlimited number Of air
les. In 1885, 1t is estimated that
United States will spend SlS2,-
300 on the new Naval construc-
In comparison with only $25,- -
700 in 1881, and $4,000, 900 in IL
1897. these figures will again
md, il the United States decides
ay down new battleships fol-