The Germany of Asia ; Japan's policy in the Far East, her "peaceful penetration" of the United States, how American commercial and national interests are affected

Part One

Japan’s Aims and Acts in the Far East— How She Threatens the Cause of Justice, the Interests of the United States and the Peace of the World.

In Eight Articles

A duplicate of this booklet will be sent to any address on receipt of 10c in stamps. Address The Bee, Sacramento, Calif.

These articles on the Far East situation were written immediately on return to California after three months’ absence and published in the Sacramento Bee between the 5th and 18th of April, 1919. The entire time, aside from that portion consumed in sea travel and a few days each in Manila and Korea, was spent in China and Japan, sightseeing being neglected at all times when information. of value could be secured.

While, as a Californian and newspaperman, I was familiar with the local phases of Asiatic immigration, I had made no study of the Far East problem and had not even read the books of Thomas F. Millard. The study made on the ground was, therefore, somewhat in the nature of an original investigation, with the advantages and disadvantages that attend such character of investigation.

Exceptional opportunities for securing reliable and confidential information offered themselves, however, in meeting prominent officials, business representatives and newspaper men—Chinese, Japanese, English and American—most of them long residentin the Far Hast and intimately familiar with conditions there. These men represented not one, but all sides of the vexed problem.

It is believed that the picture presented in the articles, while necessarily deficient in detail and artistic niceties, is substantially true in conception, outline and color. Read in the light of subsequent events, the articles present an added _ interest, and have been reprinted in this form in response to request,

Our Asset in China,

Article III explains the wonderful commercial asset which the United States possessed in the early part of this year in the good-will of China. How much of that asset remains to-day, since the Paris conference endorsed Japan’s claims on the Shantung Peninsula, it would.be difficult to say. Letters from China politely excuse us on the theory that President Wilson, while unwilling to consent to inflicting injury on China, was com-

AN EXPLANATION.

pelled by the strength of the combination against him. It is probable that the real judgment of China is to the effect that while we refused to despoil China ourselves we have placed, through President Wilson’s action, our official seal of approval on her spoliation by Japan. It is true President Wilson’s action has been repudiated by the U. S. Senate reservation as to Shantung. If this reservation shall stand as the final action of the Nation we will have retrieved, in small part only, the grave injustice we have done China.

Astonishing Propaganda.

Various methods of propaganda, followed by Japan in securing her objects in the Far Hast and concealing them from the world, are referred to in the articles. The most remarkable piece of propaganda work done by her has been exposed since they were written. It is referred to here because it offers striking corroboration of statements made in them. Reference is had to the accomplishment of Sidney L. Gulick, who, during five years’ stay in the United States, has essayed to convert us to his “New Oriental policy” of admitting Asiatics to this country as immigrants and citizens on the same plane as Buropeans; who secured the endorsement and financial assistance in this campaign of a powerful church federation representing 100,000 churches; who has embodied his plan in a “restricted immigration” bill, and, with the names of one thousand prominent American citizens as sponsors therefor, presented the bill to Congress.

Under the operation of the bill the Japanese population in the United States would reach over 100,000,000 in 160 years, long before which time the country would have become a Japanese province. The thousand good Americans whose names are used in connection with this work of the League for Constructive Immigration Legislation did not know that the bill was “loaded.” The scheme was fully exposed in a series of articles in the Sacramento Bee published in June and reproduced in the second part of this booklet.

Trans-Pacific News Service.

In Article IV attention is called to the manner in which Japan controls the incoming and outgoing news of Japan; how she is attempting to accomplish similar results in China, and the grave menace to the interests of the United States and the peace of the world which would attend the success of her efforts in this direction.

Following publication of these articles in April, 1919, the writer urged upon the Departments in Washington, and subsequently, in September and October, upon the two sub-committees of Congress having charge of radio legislation, the utilization cf the navy radio facilities on the Pacific for news transmission to keep the people of the Far East in close touch with us, and thus prevent misunderstandings, defeat vicious propaganda, and avert war.

With the cessation of war activities the news report of the Committee on Public Information had to cease, and the Far Bast, including our own Fhilippines, would become again dependent upon unsympathetic and unfriendly, or inimical, news agencies for its daily information as to the United States, our sentiments and actions.

Interchange of news across the Pacific by American news agencies or newspapers under existing conditions was impracticable. The single American cable when operating was so congested that ten to fifteen days was required for transmission of a message, while the rates, either by cable or by radio, were prohibitive.

It was urged therefore that the navy be authorized to transmit news messages across the Pacific at a word rate so low—a maximum of 6 cents per word was suggested—that American news associations would be encouraged to inaugurate a reliable and adequate daily trans-Pacific news service, self-supporting and free from Government control or censorship.

The sub-committees were sympathetic, and bills looking to the temporary authorization urged, pending permanent solution of the problem, were introduced in both houses. Probably encouraged thereby Vice Admiral W. H. Bullard, Director of Communications of the Navy, issued an order effective December 20, 1919, under which news messages would be received at San Francisco for transmission to Manila by naval radio at 6 cents per word. |

As an immediate result steps are now in progress under. which Manila newspapers will receive every day a very full report of world’s news from San Francisco. If Congress shall approve the principle involved in Admiral Bullard’s order, a similar report will go to China, and eventually to Japan; and there will be sent back to us daily a report covering events and sentiments in the Far Hast.

With a plan of this character successfully operating’ on the Pacific, the same plan will be tried elsewhere; and in time the peoples of the earth may find, through daily interchange of reliable news reports in independent hands, free from Government suggestion or censorship, a safeguard against secret diplomacy and the ambitions of rulers for which the common people must always pay.

Chinese Awakening.

Since the articles were published, patriotic Chinese mobs have treated severely the persons and the property of three of the five traitorous Chinese officials named in Article V. The boycott against Japan and Japanese goods inaugurated by China in the early part of the year has grown in strength and determination, and has not been affected apparently, so far as the Chinese people are concerned, by Japan’s threat to the Chinese Government that it might be compelled to resort to force to stop it, That boycott has been extended to our three Pacific Coast States—more particularly California—where the resident Chinese have declined to do business in any way with the Japanese.

‘Korea’s Plight.

The estimate of the Korean situation, in a special article made before reliable information could be secured as to repressive measures the adopted by the Japanese, has been | fully confirmed by news since given to the world. I:have myself received a mass of testimony and a large num. ber of photographs bearing witness to the terrible atrocities committed upon the persons of the defenseless Koreans —men, women and children—apparently with the same object which the Germans had in committing atrocities in Belgium, to subordinate by terror a subject people.

The copy of the Korean manifesto or declaration of independence, brought out from Seoul on March 6th in my money belt, is the daddy of all the copies which have since been

92 3 given to the world, and now rests in the archives of the President of the Provisional Korean Republic—Dr. Syngman Rhee, at Washington.

The story of the Philippine independence intrigue, as told in the last article, hag since found confirmation in the records of Congressional Committees and committeemen at Washington, to whom requests were made in 1916 by cable and letter that independence be not granted to the islands unless the United States would guarantee that independence against the world.

V. SS! McCLATCHY,

Sacramento, January 15, 1920.

ARTICLE I.

Japan’s Problems and How She Attempts To Solve Them

Her Government and Her Methods Copied After Germany— Room Required for Her Growing Population—-The Character of Her People—How Her Intentions Have Been Concealed.

The man who, in a strange land, finds more interest in observing the customs of the people and investigating economic and political conditions than in ordinary sightseeing cannot fail to conceive admiration for the Japanese people after even a short stay in Japan.

He finds them possessed of a number of admirable traits which might well be emulated in America, and which will account in part for the wonderful progress made by the Japanese Nation in two generations in modeling herself on the lines of Western civilization and taking position as one of the world powers.

The people are industrious anu thrifty to the last degree. ‘they are disciplined from childhood, and have inbred in them a deference for superiors, a respect for law and authority, which never leaves them. There are no tramps and no vicious idle.

Every Child Goes to School.

Their percentage of literacy is 100 —greater than that of the United

States, which prides herself on public schools, and newspapers, and general intelligence. The coolie who draws your rickshaw, or-who labors at the docks, can read and write his language—and his language is one of the most difficult on earth to learn. And the Japanese newspapers have large circulations.

The Japanese are ambitious, trained to utilize each moment, and eager to improve themselves.

A Courteous People.

They are courteous. The stranger traveling in Japan and unused to the customs of the country and unfamiliar with the language will always find some Japanese, not of the official class, who speaks enough English, who will put himself out to serve the stranger. In Kyoto, the ancient capital, thoroughly Japanese and not spoiled, as are the ports, by contact with Western civilization, we had a card of introduction by means of which we hoped to see the interior of the house of a wealthy Japanese. The lady of the house received us, jinrickshaw coolie, with the card in his hand, acting as our introducer and interpreter. And he did it with all the confidence and readiness of a Sir Walter Raleigh, with the strict observance of bows and com- Pliments called for by Japanese etiquette, and, what was most surprising to us, with a natural grace of manner.

Modeled After Germans.

It is true that in a railroad train in Korea Mrs. McClatchy had to request a Japanese Sergeant to remove his stockinged feet from the seat opposite so that she might sit down, but it is to be remembered, against this, that in Berlin German officers before the war would stove ladies off the narrow sidewalks— and the Japanese have modeled themselves in many ways after the Germans, and small officials are inclined to be self-important and arour bitrary. The high-class Japanese are commencing to observe more and more, however, the deference towards women which they find in Americans.

The Japanese impressed me as being generally superior in physical fitness to other peoples, due, in part, perhaps, to their outdoor life and their simple food, but above all to physical training which is compulsory in all schools. In two weeks in Japan, circulating freely among the crowds, I saw only two spindleshanked children. alike seemed sturdily built, and healthy.

The Germany of Asia.

But, the same man who freely admires these qualities in the Japanese cannot travel through other portions of the Far East, and particularly Korea, Manchuria and China, with opportunities for observation and investigation, without realizing that Japan is the Germany of Asia, with an ambition somewhat similar to that of her model, but limited possibly to Eastern Asia, instead of the world, while her methods. are just as relentless and unscrupulous.

The great war gave her an opportunity of which she took full advantage, and the armistice came to happy

Babes and youths | her’ as a sickening shock, for she thought Germany could not be beaten. The world which had its hands so full in Hurope that it was forced to ignore the progress of events in Asia is now checking up on Japan and her plans, with the probability that those plans will have to be materially modified.

A Public Duty to Tell Facts,

The United States particularly is entitled to a knowledge of the facts, and he who has acquired them owes a public duty to make them known.

The three Pacific Coast States, having had some experience with the Japanese and some. knowledge of Japanese character, will be prepared to accept these facts. The remaining portions of the United States, outside of some officials at Washington, are not yet prepared to believe them. their only sources of information up to this time having been such as are skillfully provided through Japanese propaganda, which convey innocuous generalities and friendly assurances calculated to encourage ignorance and to lull suspicion,

These sources comprise not only professional Japanese propagandists and a number of Japanese-American societies organized, in instances, by Americans with good _ intent, but skillfully used to deceive by the Japanese, but also Americans of national prominence who have unwittingly permitted themselves to be used. ;

How Propaganda Is Spread.

There are men like Gary, the steel man, who with his wife, was royally entertained in Japan, and in interviews on his return gave as the correct index to the Far Hastern situation the point of view furnished by his entertainers, which was quite at variance with the facts: men like Jacob Schiff, the New York banker, who recently declared at a _ banquet that Americans should be very glad to see Japan in control of the Far East, as they would then know that their interests would be well cared for—and Schiff’s information, according to his statement, was acquired in a visit to Japan thirteen years ago; men in various professions and lines of business who permitted themselves to be entertained and perhaps decorated by the Japanese Government and officials, and accepted their explanation of the situation at its face value, without attempt at investigation.

Such men, in view of the story which I have to tell, and which is only what any business firm or diplomat closely in touch with Far Hastern matters knows, are committing—unknowingly of course—a national crime in thus misleading the public that trusts them, in an important matter and at a critical time. ;

Made Close Study.

The Californian is supposed by his Eastern friends to be _ prejudiced against the Japanese; but a newspaperman is more or less of a trained investigator. In this matter, in order to be sure of -the facts, after going through China and Korea, on my return to Japan, I put myself in touch with Japanese authorities and with Americans who had absorbed the Japanese point of view in order that misinformation received by me might be detected. In addition, I confess, as is indicated in the introduction to this article, to admiration of the Japanese people for certain traits and national accomplishments.

Among other prominent Japanese I met Zumoto, one of the big men of Japan, a journalist without official position, but who occupies with the present Japanese administration a standing similar to that filled by Colonel House in President Wilson’s entourage. Zumoto speaks perfect English, has met many of the prominent men of the world, and is a man of views. In a two-hour interview at the Tokyo Club he discussed in the frankest manner the policies and mistakes of Japan, answering without hesitation the questions which I put to him, the understanding being that much of the interview was not for publication but for my information only.

Confident of Facts.

I have discussed various phases of the Eastern problem in the same way with resident managers of the great American corporations doing business in the Far East and intimately familiar with the conditions. So that I am confident my facts are right; and the story which I have to tell must stand, or fall, in the minds of those who read it, by the facts rather than by opinions of mine.

Always the excuse is made for Japan in doing the things she has done and in following the present apparent policy that she has her own vital problem and is driven by stern national necessity. There is force in that plea and it is given place here before the story is told.

Rapid Increase in Population.

Japan’s- population increases more rapidly than that of any people on the earth except the Koreans. The records of the past show that she may be expected to double her population in fifty years. I assume that rate would be increased by more general adoption of modern sanitary methods (there is not yet in. Japan, even in Tokyo with its 2,000,000 people, a sewer system) and that it might be decreased by improved standards of living and by progress of woman’s rights and possible adoption in the future of woman suffrage.

At all events the population increases every year by 700,000 or more, and the problem is where to put them, for Japan’s population is already dense. Sixty thousand or 70,000 a year are going to Hakaido, the northern of the island group, where the climate is colder, but it is found the Japanese can adapt themselves to conditions there. Some are going to Manchuria and some to Siberia. Some are going to South America, where a satisfactory understanding has been had with several of the countries that find Japanese labor desirable.

Wants More Elbow Room.

These outlets, it is claimed, are insufficient, and Japan must have the right of ‘peaceful penetration” into China in order to provide for her excess population. She insists, however, through those who talked with me, that she does not demand exceptional rights in China, but is willing to share with all other Nations the privileges granted her there.

That sounds fair enough; but the facts will show that Japan has demanded and sought to secure exceptional and exclusive rights in China; that she is even now working along that line; that in districts where she has been able to carry out her plans other nationalities could not now secure a footing without giving excuse for war between China and Japan; and that if Japan insists on carrying out the plans which are now plainly outlined the interests of the United States will be seriously menaced and possibly the peace of the world again jeopardized.

Unfaithful to Allies.

In following her established policy in the Far East, Japan has not only shown herself an apt pupil of Germany, her arch instructor, but she has also proved herself an unfaithful partner to her allies, deliberately taking advantage of their necessities to feather her own nest and to take from them the very things which she insisted she had no intention of taking. It is not impossible that when the facts aro laid before the world and her allies find time to look after their own interests, Japan will undertake with their aid to find some solution of her congested population problem that does not involve possession or control of the entire Far Hast.

Two Sophistical Pleas.

Careful consideration of the facts offered in these articles will furnish, also, conclusive answers to two suggestions that have been made as to the policy of the United States in the Far Hast.

One of these suggestions is tnat we accept the proposition made by Japan and ‘peacefully penetrate” or exploit China in partnership with Japan. That would effectually destroy our prestige in China, where we are now regarded as the one powerful and disinterested friend she has, while Japan is regarded as an enemy who seeks her destruction. In this suggestion J-epan aims either at destroying our stand in China, or if it survives the partnership, then she will share in the benefits,

The other suggestion is to the effect that we can save future worry and trouble by turning the Far Hast over to Japan and permitting her to work her will on it. That is the plan adopted in the melodrama to save the adult occupants in the sleigh from the Russian wolves by dropping one baby after another. In that case safety is secured if the supply of babies holds out. In the case of the Far East the way is endless, reaching onward through the generations of future history, and a victim offered at this time, even if it secured temporary relief, would only strengthen the Germany of Asia so that it could in the future more easily exact its demands of us. Besides the United States would lose too much, even at this time, by such a surrender.

Publicity, the Enemy of Intrigue,

President Wilson, who has. said many good things and done some bad ones, said in his speech at the League of Nations meeting at New York March 5th concerning publicity and intrigue:

“One of the things the League of Nations is intended to watch is the course of intrigues. Intrigue cannot ’ stand publicity, and if the League of Nations were nothing but a great Democratic Society it would kill intrigue. It is one of the agreements of this covenant that it is the friendly right of every nation a member of the League to call attention to anything that it thinks will disturb the peace 'of the world, no matter where the thing is occurring.”

It is a pleasure to have in this way the commendation of the President for telling this story and to realize that the war censorship powers, if still in force, will not, be invoked to stop it. For, in the absence of a League of Nations, it might be considered an unfriendly act for the United States to give these facts to the public, though Washington doubtless knows them; and it is important and necessary that the American public should learn them since the President has shown on several notable occasions an indisposition to take a stand on important international questions until assured of public sentiment; and public sentiment to be lasting must be based on a knowledge of the facts. ;

ARTICLE II

Japan’s Intention to Control the Far East

A Military Nation, Governed By a Military Party—Her Methods for Securing Control of China—An Unfaithful Ally and a

Dangerous Friend.

Japan’s course as the Germany of Asia will be better understood when it is remembered that she has always been a military nation. The Samurai who saved and held Japan by the sword are the heroes of Japan’s history, and to her army she unquestionably owes her existence and the place which she has recently attained among the great powers of the world.

Then, too, when Japan, about to emerge from her long Eastern seclusion into the light of Western civilization, looked about for a model government to copy, She chose that of Germany as best fitted to her needs and conditions. German ideas were adopted and German methods followed; the army was German taught and German organized; police surveillance and espionage systems were modeled on the German plan; most public officials speak German, and but few speak English; German methods of efficiency and detail were copied; martial order was cultivated in the school children who are drilled and whose school caps of military form indicate the class to which each belongs.

Yes, Japan was made in the Far East, but she was made over in Germany. She has been continuously ruled by the military, is ruled by it now and will be perhaps for some time. For while the voices of individuals are being raised in question as to the wisdom of retaining the military in the saddle save in times of war, in view of a number of recent blunders with which the rulers are charged, still the military spirit is too great‘ and the military party too strongly entrenched to be easily displaced.

Japan in her planned conquest for control of the Far East has closely followed the methods pursued by Germany up to 1914. It is not unlikely, however, that the fate of Germany in consistently following up those methods through the world’s war will give Japan cause to pause; and that if the glare of publicity be cast upon her own course in the Far Hast she will find in the world’s comment and in diplomatic suggestions sufficient inducement for a material change of policy.

Admired Germany Even in War.

It is known now that Japan’s course throughout the war was not that of a whole-hearted enemy of Germany’s methods and ambitions, but rather that of one who, while friendly to and admiring Germany, felt tied by certain treaty obligations, and saw in the war a golden opportunity to advance her own ambitions.

Japan did not treat harshly enemy aliens; they were asked to drop out of open business, but they do not appear to have been otherwise disturbed. I learned of but one action against an enemy alien—an aggravated case—and the German after being found guilty was fined 300 yen, but the fine was not collected and he was permitted to depart. It is well known in Japan that the Government believed Germany could not be beaten and that the end of the war stunned the nation. This belief will explain much of Japan’s policy.

Not Faithful to Allies.

The facts show, too, that Japan was not in all things a faithful partner of the Allies. She took advantage of the predicament of her partners to advance her own interests in the Far East, often to the injury of theirs. The unexpected—to her—close of the war has left her in an embarrassing situation, for her objects have not been finally accomplished, and yet

|for her intentions are plainly evidenced and she is called upon to offer some explanations and some amends. This language is undiplomatic, but it represents the cold facts,

In this, as in other matters, the war will prove a distinct benefit to mankind, notwithstanding its great cost, for without evidence of the kind the world, and particularly the trusting United States, might have accepted Japan’s assurances until too late for preventing action.

Publicity Willi Help.

The Japanese merchants and business men are only commencing to appreciate the value of commercial honesty, and the military powers that rule Japan have sadly soiled her reputation before the world for diplomatic honesty and national honor. If she had won control of the Far East by these German methods she could have disregarded the world’s criticism. As it is, publicity, even without public pressure from her allies, will doubtless do much towards inducing a change in her policy.

Since the war opened in 1914 Japan has consistently endeavored to force China by threat and by bribery and by force to accord her special rights and concessions which would be to the injury of her allies, and has sought by force and threat to have these concessions kept secret. Andin the case of the twenty-one demands in 1915 she was guilty of the unparalleled piece of bad faith of having her Ambassadors deny categorically to her allies and friends, whose interests were involved—notably the United States and Great Britain—that such demands had been made or granted.

Japanese Methods.

In the case of Tsing-tau which she wrested from Germany in order, as she publicly declared, to return it to China, she first showed a disposition to retain it as her just share of the spoils, then declared a willingness to turn it back to China if paid therein railroad and other exclusive concessions; and now it appears that she has utilized her four years’ -possession of the place to so change local conditions and supplant other nationals with Japanese that it will be practically Japanese territory no matter who holds the nominal title.

Japan endeavored to force the Chinese’ Government by bribe and threat to have Japan appear as spokesman for China at the Paris Conference; tried to have Koo and Wong withdrawn when they faithfully presented China’s cause; threatened the Chinese Government through Obata if it disclosed any of the seecret treaties and concessions which had been wrung from China during the war, which were inimical to the interests of the other Allies and which the Paris Peace Conference had shown a desire to see.

These are only a few of the counts against Japan as a. bad .partner; some of the others perhaps will not become public, but they are all placed and indexed in the foreign offices of the great powers; and a knowledge of them on the part of the world will undoubtedly secure a change of policy on the part of Japan, and perhaps assist in dethroning the military power in Japan that is responsible for them. They are briefly referred to now, as they help to make easy an understanding of matters to follow.