Evening star., 1937-06-13

yards. Ten thousand people live here
under their charge
There Is no unrest in Mike. and
there are some Westerners who will
be annoyed that one should take this
model center as typical. The argu-
ment of the Mitsuis and others seems
to me sound enough. In fifty years
Japanese industry has been revolu-
tionized. Japan Is, on the whole, an
indlVidualist country. already so per
cent OF its industry has been got into
the hands of combines, and these in
turn are doing all in their power,
and as quickly as possible, to make
their works and factories model and
healthy.
1t is true the other so per cent of
industry is carried on under terrible
conditions, and it is true that the
Mitsuis and others have interests in
these small peoples output; but tc
get them to give up their ways would
certainly lead TO bloodshed and auto
cratic methods. Germany and Rus
sla have done so. Their success, If
success it is, has been at cost the
Mitsuis and others will not face
They prefer to be sure of their mar
kets. When YOU suggest higher wages
TO them, they hotly deny that that
is any use. Higher wages, they say
have not shown in western countries
that the Workmen are any happier
than those in Japan.
Plenty Of Opposition.
The great companies are, of course
worried. There is discomfort, a,
there always will be among certain
classes, there is plenty of Communis,
propaganda and combines such as the
Mltsui business are obvious butts fol-
attack. In addition. the Mitsuis wan
peace, and the army wants war: anc
young officers, when they rebel. otter
shoot members of the Mitsui firm
The Mitsuis are doing all they car
today to counter labor discomfort anc
to appease the military by helping the
spread Of the national spirit.
The Mitsuis realize, as does ever,
one OF standing in Japan, that tht
working classes are being undermined
by modern machinery and comfort
Luckily, in what is known in Japan a.
State Shinto. they have a religion or 9
way Of thinking which is purely ma.
tional.
The firm, with its colossal wealth
is not unnaturally interested in one
OF the two main political parties O,
the state. The other three great firm.
are mainly interested in the Other
great party, and the Mitsuis are them
selves closely allied by marriage anc
otherwise with these three families.
| Whatever, then. may be temporarily
the dominant feeling in Japan which
puts party in power. it can be safel,
said that the party will never do any.
thing very drastically antagonistic
to Mitsui interests.
Army Threatens Power.
The only great danger to arise ir
recent years to their 300-year- ole
influence is the army, and especially
the extremist branch of the army
which is not easy to placate, and i.
likely to shoot when angry. But or
the whole. the Mitsui and busines.
interests are proving too strong fol
the army. The army cannot develor
Manchukuo without big business capi.
tai; the control of China, so long a!
China is not too far alienated, is a!
advantageous to Mitsui as to Gen
Araki. Already there are signs tina
liberalism is winning in Japan, ane
that the Mitsuis are coming into thei,
own again.
What will this mean to the Western
World? Nothing, I am afraid that il
particularly bright.
Let no man think that in competine
with Japan or the House of Mitsui ht
Is competing with ignorant or crude
Orientals. He is competing with cul.
tured, we'll organized, patriotic ane
religious men; and in competing with
the Mitsuis he is competing with for.
midable opponents, but opponent.
who would rather work with othel
lands than against them; opponent.
who are broad-minded hate war anc
realize that trade is international anc
should never be the monopoly of any
one part Of the world. The Mitsuis are
however, human. and will take anc
will hold whatever they can get, a1c
they have never been known to miss
an opportunity.