Evening star., 1949-07-03

compelled TO get rio OF It's mon
archy and embrace communism.
In the days before the war those
elements opposed war on the
United States because they real
lied that Japan was not able,
economically and industrially, to
overcome the power which Amer
lea could develop. These men, IN
talking with responsible Ameri-
cans, point out, however. that
Japan's preWar 100000 popula-
ton would have increased to 100.-
100000 by 1860 if the high birth
rate continued. The islands, they
add, could not possibly support
such a population. But there was
no outlet for the surplus, except
on the Asiatic mainland and par
ticularly in Manchuria, which Of
fered sufficient space for many
more inhabitants than it had at
that time. Moreover, raw mate
rials available in that Chinese
province would suffice for the
growing food needs of the islands.
japanese diplomats and states
men argued with the American
Government between 1881 and
1941 that Marchuria was only
geographically a part of China.
but politically was in the hands
of corrupt warlords like Chang
Tso-lin, who exploited the vast
territory only to enrich them
selves and their camarilla.
Without Manchuria, these jap
anese told American officials,
Japan would stifie. And since no
nation of 100000 was willing
to commit suicide. the only course
for its survival was a war Of
conquest. Manchuria, said these
Japanese, would be more than
sufficient, if the American Gov
ernment could see its way to
recognize the new puppet empire
established by the Japanese mill
itary under Henry Pu-yi, the boy
Emperor"
u. S. Was Best Customer
Moreover, it was intimated to
us that in such an eventuality
further expansionist movement
would be stopped, particularly if
indirect economic collaboration
could be establised with the
United States on the basis Of
friendly cooperation. We we're
then among the best customers
of the japanese and a Japanese
member of the Diet expressed
himself as follows to American
Congressman who visited Tokyo in
1886: "You don't hit your best
customer with a ball bat
The japanese realized that. in
view of China's internal disin-
tegration. Mancliuria sooner or
later would be taken over by Rus
sia, which had gained a strong
foothold in that province. This
was one of the principal reasons
why the Japanese fought a costly
war with the Gar in 1904.
Our adamant stand behind
John Hays doctrine of the open
door in China was the compelling
motive for our refusal to accept
any of Tokyo's suggestions for an
agreement on Manchuria. Now.
however, we have been compelled
to abandon not only the OPEN
door policy, but also the Stimson
doctrine of 1882 against recogni-
ton of forceful acquisitions Of
territory.
Manchuria has been lost to the
nom Communist world. The Rus
slams now are taking over from
their Chinese stooges and replac-
ing the Chinese Communists with
Russians. Before long it is ex-
pected that the iron curtain will
drop tightly around that rich ter
ritory, while various warlords, i'm
bued with Moscow's democratic
doctrine" will fight each other to
keep the remainder of that vast
country in long turmoil.
Moscow Link Inevitable
The same japanese who felt
that amity with the United States
is of paramount Importance to
Japan's survival as a power now
believe that close collaboration
with Russia on Moscow's ideolog-
ical terms is inevitable so long as
the u S. S. r. remains the DOM
inant power in Asia.
Their reasoning is clear: Ja-
pan. they say, cannot possibly re-
cover and progress sufficiently to
keep a modest standard of living
for its people unless it has access
to the rich natural resources Of
Manchuria and has the possibility
of exporting freely to the peoples
of Asia.
The world economic system is
now based on politics. Markets
are open to a nation according to
whether it is democratic or totali-
tartan. Japan wants to remain
in the democratic. camp, but it is
too far away from the Western
bloc. Since Russia now has be-
come the unchallenged master Of
Eastern Asia. Japan soon will have
no other choice but to join with
Moscow, even if this means q
complete Transformation of its po-
litical and economic structure.
1--WE realize" say some leading
Japanese bankers and Industrial
lists, that this will mean, indeed.
the end of an era for us. We
realize that it may mean the ruth
less determination of our classes.
We realize that this also may
mean that the Japanese people
will be compelled to fight once
more against the West and our
country once more may become
the target for destructive missiles.
But the domination of the Far
East by the Russians gives us no
choice