JAPAN’S PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 5

JAPAN’S PROBLEMS

Poor Natural Resources ECONOMIC EXPANSION A Unique Publication Much information concerning the lauds forming the East Indies and the South Sea Islands is contained in a very handsome gravure supplement, printed wholly in English, which was recently published by a large Japanese newspaper, “The Osaka JMainishi and the Tokio Niehl.” The supplement, which is profusely illustrated, gives detailed and valuable information about the geographical features, natural resources, economic development and historical details of Dutch East Indies, Alariane, Marshall ami Caroline Islands, British North Borneo, Siam, French Indo-Chiua, British Malaya, the Philippines and Taiwan or Formosa, while an article is devoted to the economic relations between Manchuria and Japan. On this subject. Ryozo lizumi says: “The most deplorable defect of Japan is felt by many io be her lack of natural resources. While the density of her population stands on a par with that of Holland, Denmark and other countries in Europe, she is still adding to it almost 1,000,000 people every year. The shortage of foodstuffs and the lack of raw materials for manufacturing industries have been felt keenly, especially so when the people of Japan come to realise the fact that she has an ever and rapidly increasing population, and a constantly growing consumption. “In view of the fact that more than 70 per cent, of Japan’s imports consist of raw materials for industries, it is quite clear that all the measures to stop her excess imports over exports; are bound to be a failure, without limiting or stopping Japan’s everincreasing population. Peaceful Economic Expansion. “The defect of Japan in her national life results from her late start in adapting herself to modern conditions. The only way for her salvation from her present plight is to carry out the peaceful economic expansion into foreign countries. The increase of her imports, and the encouragement of her colonisation and immigration may contribute to solving Japan’s economic difficulties to some extent.” The article goes on to discuss the relationship between Japan and Manchuria and the South Sea Islands. “We must not forget the existence of the South Sea Islands,” it states, “for they have a role which is on a nar with that of Manchuria and Alongolia as suppliers of Japan’s foodstuffs and raw materials, and a market for Japanese goods. . . . Fortunately as Japan has been blessed with geographical propinquity to the South Sea Islands, she has advantage over her industrial competitors. She has already invested 120 million yen in various industries in the islands, and purchases from them 150 million yeu worth of raw materials for her manufacturing industries. “The Japanese goods have been welcomed because they are best fitted for the use of the islanders, and their prices are quite moderate, allowing no manufacturer in the world to compete' in these respects. Mutual benefits have been realised in the trade between the South Sea islands and Japan for many years past, and it is destined to make great strides in the near future.” "Closed Door” Policy. Reference is made in the publication to the “closed door” policy which some nations have adopted toward Japan. One writer says: “There is a regrettable tendency in the world to close the door to Japanese emigrants just because of the increase of their number. To the countries that entertain anxiety about the increase of Japanese emigrants, in their lands, the ease of Hawaii affords a good example. “At the time of the annexation of Hawaii by the United States the entire population of the islands totalled some 100,000, of which half was made up of Japanese. The Chinese followed in point of number, while the total of the Americans was insignificant. Nothing troublesome arose following America’s annexation. Had white races constituted a large number of the people in Hawaii, certainly there would have hare been some sort of trouble, at the time of America’s annexation, people say.”

The supplement is attractively laid out according to modern journalistic practice, and credit must be given to the enterprise of a Japanese journal in bringing out such an admirable publication in English.