vVj JAPAN’S PATH OF HONOR EDITORIAL, NEW YORK TIMES. OCTOBER 2nd, 1921 SHALL MANCHURIA AND MONGOLIA GO TO JAPAN? LEBBEUS R. WILFLEY FORMER JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR CHINA JAPAN’S CASE STATED J. INOUYE GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF JAPAN JAPAN’S “PRESSURE OF POPULATION” PROBLEM B. LENOX-SIMPSON (PUTNAM WEALE) ‘Published by THE CHINA SOCIETY OF AMERICA No. 13 ASTOR PLACE NEW YORK CITY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/japanspathofhonoOOwilf JAPAN’S PATH OF HONOR. Japan comes into the family of expanding nations some two hundred years too late. While she slept the world was parceled out, put under title and occupancy. The lands she craves and needs are to be had only by dispossessing present owners, and it is not in keeping with the modern spirit that she is permitted to secure her great commercial outposts, as she plainly purposes to secure them, by seizure. That was the old buccaneering way to get colonies, held in due respect so long as no one called it in question. The terrible crash that forever ended the Drang naeh Osten and the Berlin-Bagdad dreams brought that era to its close and established the principles of the later international morality, already even then coming into authority. Self-deter- mination, the consent of the governed and the equality of nations great and sm^all annul the iron law of might. Why does Japan keep to the old abandoned way that brings upon her discredit and engenders distrust, when there lies open before her the new way that will win her the confidence and sincere friendship of all other nations? Why should she not discard all thought of expansion by conquest and intrigue, and secure by fair dealing the colonies she requires for the overflow of her population and the building up of her commerce? The Japanese are a proud people. They feel that the astonishing progress they have made in the short seventy years since West- ern civilization knocked at their door is proof of a racial capacity and skill and genius that give them title to a place among the foremost. But locomotives and bridges and steel plants are not the greatest work of man. Battleships are very far from being his noblest work. In all these Japan excels. Let her now, if she would win her way unchallenged to high consideration among the nations, bring forth a work of the spiritj greater than any of the hands ; let her, who has been a follower, an imitator, become a leader, seizing the torch of civilization from the hand of the foremost and bearing it on herself. It would transform 2 and exalt her could she give this conspicuous sanction to that “prescription of open, just and honorable relations between nations” which the high contracting parties of the Versailles Treaty pledged themselves to promote. Specifically, let Japan get the territory she needs by fair bargaining. It is everywhere admitted that room for growth is the vital need of her national life. In her home land she has a population of nearly 400 to the square mile. It is true that Belgium is prosperous with 650 to the square mile, but Belgium has no high mountains, while much of the area of Japan is given over to uninhabitable peaks and slopes. It is the wish and aim of the Japanese to extend their empire by colonial growth, by securing territory abroad to which the surplus population can be transported, ultimately to become purveyors of raw material to the home manufactures, and, at the same time, furnishing a market for their products. The question at once arises. Where is there any considerable territory open to peaceful and honorable exploitation by Japan? It is not imperative that her colonies should lie near her island empire. Germany’s vision and plans of penetration belted the globe ; her merchants were quite at home, not only in Russia, but in remote Brazil and the Pacific islands. There are broad domains in Eastern Siberia and in Mongolia that might be found available for Japan. Manchuria is practically in her hands, not by the cleanest of titles. Perhaps China might consider formal conveyance. It would be better to sell at a round price than to surrender on the terms that Japan has set for herself. In Africa room might be found for Japan, possibly by trans- ferring some of the mandated German territory. And there are immense regions in Central Asia, sparsely peopled by tribes incapable of progress and production. If Japan would cease her naval expenditure of $600,000,000 a year, she would soon have a fund big enough to give her high standing in the international real estate market. The objection instantly urged is that, while land is a commodity, the human beings inhabiting it cannot be bought and sold in this way. Alwaj^s the consent of the inhabitants is assumed as a prerequi- site. It would be obtainable in some of the territories we have mentioned, if Japan went about getting it in the right way. 3 There’s the rub, the whole case for or against a peaceful and unopposed policy of expansion for that empire. Japan must be reborn in grace before she attempts it. Plain speaking is best, and it is no news to her that she is regarded as not a good neighbor, as a bad master. Her policy toward China is one of studied aggression ; covertly or by open bullying she aims at control of that vastly numerous but feeble folk. She has subjugated Korea and treats the Koreans in a way that is an international scandal. All that must be changed, and a stop put to it before Japan can make any headway in peaceful colonization. She must be so transformed that the holders of spheres of influence in Africa would not look with alarm upon her coming to them as a neighbor. This means a complete trans- formation for Japan. She is governed, guided and controlled far too much by thirteenth century ideas. Presenting a modern and parliamentary aspect in front, somewhere in the dark back- ground she maintains an ancient embodiment of military caste, a general staff that has far too much to say about her policies. German ideas, German training have been a curse to her. She is militaristic, imperialistic; she dreams of conquest and of rising to great heights of power, a frame of mind which, in these modern times, is dangerous, pestilent, most of aU to herself. There are modern-minded men in Japan, many of them; men who see the light, men who would be the natural leaders of the democracy they would be glad to see established. But the great change must take place before these men can come to the fore. That change wiU make all the difference in the world in the attitude of other nations toward Japan. The amplitude of this program, involving radical changes in Japan’s conduct and policy, requiring that she should con- demn what she has practiced and practice what she has con- demned, may make it seem audacious. It is, nevertheless, one that may seriously be commended to her consideration. The fate of Germany should be a sufficient warning that imperialism and militarism have no place, cannot be tolerated, in this modern world. We do not see how she can well take exception to the counsel of upright dealing. We can offer her a few examples. At the close of the Mexican War, although victorious, we paid Mexico $15,000,000 for the territory transferred to us. We paid 4 Eussia $7,000,000 for Alaska. We paid Spain $20,000,000, not as a purchase price of the Philippines, but as a solatium. We have just ratified a treaty providing that we shall pay Colombia $25,000,000 in compensation for her loss of Panama, where we “took” the Canal Zone. The founders of the League of Nations recognized the vital fact that “just and honorable relations between nations” are the surest guarantee of peace. The adop- tion of the rule of justice and right dealing in her international policy would he worth more to Japan than the navy she is build- ing at such tremendous cost. — Editorial, New York Times, Oc- tober 2nd, 1921. (Eeprinted by permission.) SHALL MANCHURIA AND MONGOLIA GO TO JAPAN? Letter from Lebbeus R. Wilfley, Former Judge of the United States Court for China, to the “New York Times.” To the Editor of the New York Times-. Most heartily commending your powerful editorial of Oc- tober 2nd, entitled “Japan’s Path of Honor,” I desire to ask permission to submit a few facts which I believe have a material bearing on the suggestion you throw out in this editorial on the very important subject of the necessity of finding an outlet for Japan’s overcrowded population. While your comment on this subject amounts to a mere suggestion, it raises one of the most difficult problems which the coming Armaments Conference will be called upon to meet. You state : “There are broad domains in Eastern Siberia and in Mon- golia that might be found available for Japan. Manchuria is practicall in her hands, not by the cleanest of titles. Perhaps China might consider formal conveyance. It would be better to sell at a round price than to surrender on the terms which Japan has set for herself.” Now, on this point I have this to say: Manchuria is just as much an integral part of China as Shantung. It has a purely Chinese population of fifteen millions of souls, almost equalling 5 that of Korea. In your editorial you state: “She (Japan) has subjugated Korea and treats Koreans in a way that is an international scandal.” With this spectacle before her eyes China could hardly be expected to consider formal conveyance of Manchuria to Japan on any terms. Furthermore, it is a well known fact that Japan’s experi- ment at colonization in Manchuria and other parts of China, which was undertaken on a serious scale some ten years ago, has resulted in failure for two reasons. In the first place, the Jap- anese are unable to compete with the Chinese as agricultural- ists, shopkeepers or traders; and in the second place, the Japan- ese have refused, on account of the rigor of the climate, to go into the northern parts of Manchuria, Mongolia and Siberia, areas which are sparsely settled and where competition is light. As a result of this experiment, Japan has completely changed her policy towards China. She no longer contemplates the colonization of China, but has for her manifest purpose to Koreanize that country — that is to say, forcibly to subvert her sovereignty, reduce her to the position of a subject state, admin- ister her government outright and exploit her resources and markets. Experience has demonstrated that the Japanese are poor colonizers. They are not frontiersmen. Chili and Brazil have offered inducements to the Japanese to settle in those countries, but with very limited success. The Japanese prefer to go into countries like California and Australia, where the climate is congenial, where wages are high, and living conditions good, so that they can amass a competency and eventually return to their own country. I recognize that it is highly desirable that Japan should have an outlet for her overcrowded population, but I submit that it would be unfair and most unwise to undertake to relieve Japan’s situation in this respect at the expense of another civ- ilized nation, which also has an overcrowded population, and which has the same right to independent existence as has Japan. Furthermore, China needs an outlet for her rapidly increas- ing population. Shantung is already greatly overpopulated, and 6 statistics show that a very large number of her population an- nually emigrate to Manchuria and Mongolia. Statistics also show that China’s population, which is now four hundred mil- lion, has increased in the last twenty years by about sixty-seven millions. At this rate, by 1950 she will have a population of considerably more than five hundred millions. Japan has a population of 377 to the square mile; Shantung, 528; Belgium, 664; England and Wales, 666, and the Netherlands, 589. Fur- thermore, Japan’s statistics show that during very recent years the rate of increase in her population shows a marked decrease. While this comparison is hardly fair to Japan, on account of the mountainous character of her territory, yet in this connec- tion it is well to remember that she has large territories of her own which are only sparsely inhabited and which are capable of accommodating from ten to twenty millions of people. I refer to the large, rich island of Hokkaido, lying just north of Hoshu, the main island of the Japanese archipelago, and which has a climate similar to that of western New York. In addition to this large island, Japan also has the southern part of Sag- halien, Formosa and Korea, in which areas her attempts at colonization have not been successful. In view of the foregoing facts and in view of the further fact which you point out in your editorial, namely: that Japan “is not a good neighbor” and “a bad master,” I submit that the permanent acquisition by Japan of Manchuria and Mongolia would be calculated to aggravate rather than alleviate a situation already abhorrent to China and fraught with danger to the Peace of the World. Very sincerely yours, Lebbeus R. Wilfley. New York City, October 7, 1921. (Reprinted by permission.) 7 JAPAN’S CASE STATED by J. INOUYE, Governor of the Bank of Japan. HEAD OF BANK OF JAPAN DEPRECATES MIGRATION. Governor Inouye Says It Is Hopeless to Think of Moving Nippon’s Increasing Population. Washington, Nov. 8 (Association Press.) — The Japanese na- tion is really unfit for emigrating abroad, declared Governor J. Inouye of the Bank of Japan in discussing the question, “What does Japan want economically?” as related to the Washington armament conference. Governor Inouye ’s views, given to The Associated Press correspondent in Tokio prior to departure of the Japanese armament delegation to the United States, are con- sidered important, as it is his voice that will he heard in Tokio as the wise men of Nippon cable from time to time instructions to their plenipotentiaries on matters financial and economic. “As historically proved,” said Governor Inouye, who is re- garded as Japan’s greatest authority on finance and economy, “it is almost hopeless to think of removing our increasing popu- lation to other countries. “Our population is increasing by over 600,000 yearly, but foodstuffs cannot be increased in quantities sufiicient to meet such a rapidly augmenting population.” He pointed out the shortage of cotton, wool, steel and iron ore for Japan’s industries, and continued : “Such being the case, there is no other way for Japan to solve such a vital problem concerning the economic existence of the nation than to find resources in economic activity abroad. It will be quite natural that Japan choose Manchuria, Mongolia and China, with which she has the most intimate relations his- torically and also geographically. From this economic activity. 8 however, Japan should not be misunderstood as insisting on ter- ritorial exclusion. “Japan’s economic activity should be directed not only to acquire an outlet for the products of home industries, though that may suffice other countries, but she must further settle the vital question of the economic existence of the nation. Conse- quently, there may be difference of degree between the economic activity of Japanese and that of the other nations in Manchuria, Mongolia and China; the situation will easily be understood by all the powers. It is quite unreasonable, if any one, by reason of such difference of degree, should declare that Japan is intend- ing to exclude the other nations .” — New York Times, November 8, 1921. JAPAN’S “PRESSURE OF POPULATION” PROBLEM. by B. LENOX-SIMPSON (Putnam Weale) Excerpt from an address by B. Lenox-Simpson at a luncheon given him by the China Society of America at The Bankers Club, New York City, October 31, 1921. “As for any actual necessity for Japan going overseas to relieve the pressure of her population, the facts today prove con- clusively that there is no such pressure. Korea, after being six- teen years in Japanese hands, has less than 400,000 Japanese immigrants, or an average influx of 25,000 a year. Formosa, after twenty-six years’ ownership by Japan, has little more than 100,000 Japanese residents. The leased territory in Manchuria and the South Manchuria Railway Zone have under 90,000 Jap- anese. That is, during two decades Japan has only sent to these regions slightly more than half a million people. If we examine the emigration from the British Isles during a like period, we find a figure so vastly superior to this total that it is made quite plain that there is no such pressure in Japan as there is in the United Kingdom. Moreover, last year’s statistics show that Jap- 9 anese increase in population has fallen from half a million an- nually to 280,000. If this diminished birth rate is maintained, it will be yet another proof that the cry of overpopulation is entirely fictitious. There is one final remarkable fact. Japan has at home in her own territory enough land to take care of forty years’ normal increase. The northern island of Hokkaido is still only sparsely colonized and could carry ten millions more. Similarly, if the crown lands belonging to the imperial family were thrown open to the colonization of the Japanese people there would be room for an additional ten millions. A country that has available land which could support an increased popu- lation of 20,000,000 and yet cries that it must expand abroad, is actually dishonest. What Japan requires is not overspill areas but what I call wealth contact areas. In other words, wherever on the shores of the Pacific the white man has pioneered and created his standards of life, there do the Japanese desire to go. They do not like Latin America as much as other parts. What they really desire is access to Anglo-Saxon America and Anglo-Saxon Australia, where the standards are immensely higher than elsewhere and the cash returns correspondingly great. That seems to me everything that needs to be said on this side of the question.” [ 691 ] ■ , ' i' fit I ‘ , ' . .. ■ ' u i:v>\ Ui' . I . .‘t' , ' ■ ' -■ ' ' . V" • 'U'r [ ' ■■ ■ '■ ~ ■ ,;i , i. i. : ■ V» M'fi,! cn.: ■ ‘-i' • ! . ■ />. ii' |),o, '< •: t ■ ’ , - V 'i.;;'; i, ■< ;!/■• . ■■■ ■, ■ . ’ ■ >' -.. ■■■ " ■> ^ •; i; i,., ■' ’ ' ■■' ■■ I' ' .J i "I. 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