Evening star., 1938-05-31
N|PPONESE SEEK
BASE IN AMERICA
Latest Move Is Effort to
Establish Fisheries
in Peru.
sr ecial Dispatch to The Star.

RSU IlTIu IOOCIlOfQ SOIlleWIlSI6 On bIls
Pacific Coast of the Americas. The
latest development seems to be the
prospective formation of Japanese
Peruvian concern, possibly headed by
the big Kyodo interests of Toxic, for
the establishment of fisheries and
salt works in the South american
nation.
This follows efforts by the Nippon
ese to establish themselves in Alaskan
waters, to get mining concessions in
Western Mexico, to purchase rail-
road line in Costa Rica, 70 operate
fisheries in Panamanian seas and to
work themselves itno a strategic po-
sion in the Galapagos Islands of the
coast of Ecuador. They are already
edging toward the Antarctic whaling
zone, in parts the New Zeaianders
consider their own.
japanese efforts to spread their ac-
tivities into foreign waters have re-
suited in several disputes with other
nations On the Asiatic side OF the
Pacific, they have been in trouble
with Soviet Russia over the Kam-
chatka fisheries. In Alaska, their sal
mon fishing got them into difficulties
with the United States, as did some
of their activities connected with tuna
fishing of California.
Rebuked by Costa Rica.
Their attempts to buy or control
railroad from San Jose, Costa Rica,
to the Pacific port of Punta Arenas
met with a rebuke from the Costa
Rican government Panama forbade
them to fish in its territorial waters
after February, 1888. alleging that the
japanese were using dynamite, USE
lessly killing great numbers of fish.
Ecuador did not see eye to eye with
the Orientals in the matter of their
fishing off the Galapagos.
On the other side of the ledger,
they may achieve some success in
negotiations carried out with an
Argentine economic mission to Toxic.
Argentina may increase its purchases
Of Japanese textiles if Japan buys
more of Argentinas cotton, hides,
meat and wool The same Kyodo in
terests are reported to have had
part in the formation of an Argen-
tine-Japanese fishing concern. But
Argentina, of course, is not on the
Pacific Ocean.
"A recent authoritative estimate of
the number Of Japanese living in
Iatin-American countries shows AS
600 Of them in Peru, country with
a. population OF 6,5oo,Ooo, besides
small but influential colonies in El
Salvador (the only nation in the
Western hemisphere to recognize
Manchukuo), Panama and Mexico. On
tie Atlantic side of South America
there Is a large colony Of 100000
Japanese in Brazil.
Troubles Date From 1880.
Japanese troubles with American
interests date from about 1880, when
Japanese ships started fishing for
oxabs in the Bristol Bay area of
Alaska. From catching crabs, an
ACTIVITY which did not worry American
fishermen. the Japanese changed to
catching salmon, which did.
In 1885, after repeated protests by
Americans who saw japanese vessels
1utercepting currents of salmon care
fully nursed to conserve and protect
the breed, the Toxic government an
nounced that it would conduct a sur
vey OF the situation, which would
carry through the 1888 fishing season.
Finally, on March 25, 1888, Toxic
accepted the American ban on salmon
fishing in Alaska, thus closing the
chapter for the time being.
The Nipponese did not leave the
Alaskan waters without giving rise to
rumors that more than fish was in
volved In their presence both there
and along the California shore. For
one thing, observers reported many Of
the officers commanding the fishing"
ships were either active or reserve
officers in the imperial Japanese Navy.
Then, after the presence was reported
near the California coast of an "alien
hotilla OF submarines, probably Japa-
nese, it was remarked that the engines
OF the fishing vessels bore a striking
similarity to the Diesel motors used
on Japanese undersea boats.
Sub Maneuvers Reported.
This may or may not be so, but the
fact that Mexico discovered Japanese
vessels engaged in a photographic
survey of Lower California shore
points did not make the rumors less
plausible. Two years before, in No.
vernber, 1885, the mysterious subma-
rtne fotilla" had already been men
tpned in Panama dispatches as having
been seen r1aneuvering near the Ga
lapagos Islands.
Another report last February told
Of negotiations being conducted by
japanese with the Mexican govern
ntent for huge iron ore concession
on the Pacific Coast and the right
td Improve" the harbor of Mazatlan.
Payment by Japan Of $10,000,000 was
mentioned as being involved in the
deal. Mazatlan could be convenient
jumping-of point for a naval force
intent on disrupting maritime traffic
coming through the Panama Canal.
"A new element has been added to
tre question of Japanese penetration
by the decision of Argentina and
CEile, announced at Santiago de
Chile May 4. to name the United
States Attorney General, Homer S.
Cummings, as arbiter in their long
dispute concerning the Picton, New
and Lennox Islands.
These three small islands are
located at the eastern end of Beagle
Channel, South of TERRA del Fuego
and near storm-swept Cape Horn.
The channel and neighboring islands
wsre used during the World War by
both German and British cruisers
and are of definite strategic value
for naval force carrying operations
from one ocean to the other. II
the Panama Canal were disabled
those islands would play an i'm