MILITARISM IN JAPAN.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17220, 10 August 1921, Page 5

MILITARISM IN JAPAN.

A PROFESSOR'S WARNING.

(WOM OV& OWN COMHSSPONBENT.)

SYDNEY,; August 2,

In appealing for a sympathetic and helpful attitude towards China in what he termed her extreme hour of trial, Dr. J. C. Keyte, an Englishman who is now professor of philosophy at, Shantung "University, China, and who 'has spent over 10 years in the East and is now visiting Australia, made a striking indictment of Japanese militarism. Addressing, the Millions Club—a strong organisation of commercial men —he declared that despite all they heard to the contrary, Japan was still an autocracy, subjected to the autocratic {power of the Black Dragon, military caste, eo that Japan would never become democratic if the ruling powers got their way. The Japanese Diet was lrirgoly camouflage, and the power of the members was mainly that of saying* "Yes" to the decisions and desires of the Cabinet, which represented the Elder Statesmen. The Prefw in Japan was entirely # under the domination of the Cabinet, and was as muoh a Government bureau as if its director were drawing Government salary and his term of rule dependent on the whim of the Government. The Press could not publish a single item of news that the Japanese Cabinet wished to Suppress. \ ' The destinies of Japan, proceeded the professor, were absolutely in the power of the Chauvinistic party, and they were tlhe party seeking naval and military domination. But it must ever be remembered that these military rulers Were situated in a country: where there was neither 1 coal nor iron, and all-the raw materials fdV warfare had to be imported. Thenorthern parts of-Japan provided but: little for the support of fife, and-even Sotfthern Japan only grew rice. AH wheat had to be imported into Japan. On the other side of the Yellow Sea was China, so naturally rich thatit easily, provided all the necessaries of life> whilst coal and iron abounded in quantities capable of supplying the world's needs for hundreds of thousands of yean. Japan knew that without the consent, of, the .Western Powers she never would wage a first-class war so long as eihe was deprived .of the raw materials, but if Hhe got the coal and iron and labour facilities of China she would be independent of the Western Powers, so the Western Powers should be exceedingly careful not to allow her, or to help her; to get her hands' on n weapon such' as they never lhad reason to fear in the past. The only, people tbe Japanese feared and respected were the Germans, and that because of their military and economic efficiency.