THE CHANGING EAST

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 10

THE CHANGING EAST

MONEY MADE BY WAR

JAPANESE MILLIONAIRES,

The Rev. M. 0. Dunning, a member of the staff of the American Board for Foreign Missions in.Japan, in referring to the effects of the war in Japan, states that there has been an enormous increase in the wealth of certain classes of people, and that this has resulted in a larger consumption of intoxicating liquors, and. the building of great breweries. Other effects noted by Mr. Dunning are inflation of prices upon necessary articles of food and commerce, and a "tremendous impetus to the movement, for the democratisation. of the country."

"More than any other class of people," says Mr. Dunning, "shipowners and all having anything to do with shipping have had their ..wealth multiplied overnight, as it were. Shipping stock that sold at 8, three years ago, has been soaring around 300 and higher, and dividends of 70 per cent, have been declared. I understand that one siuall company sold its ships and turned a neat dividend of more than 3000 per cent. It seems incredible. As_ a. result, we have quite a class of 'fune-nari-km,' or 'ship-become-money' people. It certainly has been 'ship-become-money.' . ."This newly and sudd:enly-acqnired wealth led to a great increase in liquor drinking." '. ' THE RICE RIOTS. .Mr. Dunning referred to the cornering of rice—the staple food—which advanced in price by 300 per cent.1' Then the mob's rose and for a time things were, lively. A deliberately-planned 3,000,000 yen fire was brought about right in Kobe, when the bead, offices of one of the large rice firms were cleaned out. The price of rice fell about 50 per cent., but it'has been slowly advanced again. "Great numbers of people were arrested throughout the country during these 'rice-riots,' and the troops were called out in many places. Several hundreds of those arresfcsd, about 800,- if I recall correctly, have boen , given sentences, and the power of the police and Government has been maintained. At the same time the upper and ruling classes have been given something to think about, and more attention will bo paid to the rights' of the common people in the future. The social changes' that are coming in Europe and America, as a result of the 'war, are coming here and coining rapidly. TOWARDS DEMOCRACY. "Japan; politically, has been organised largely on the autocratic form of government, very much along German lines. Even in peace times' , there has been a good deal of censoring of the press. The • movement toward democracy is growing by leaps and bounds. Countless:/articles are appearing, in the press, warning the people abput 'dangerous thoughts,' that democracy may be suited to western nations, but it is not suitable to the genius of .the Japanese people, etc. These articles simply serve to show how rapidly the movement toward democratisation is proceeding with. the people. . Since . the opening of the Meiji Era, when Japan opened her doors to tho Western nations and began that wonderful transformation that has brought her to an acknowledged place as one of . the great Powers of the 'world) there has been no time like the present for ,the moulding and shaping of the thoughts and ideals of the people.

"This increase of wealth, in one or two groups of people, has roused the desire for a simila.r increase of wealth among other classes. As a result, price manipulation and the cornering of staplfe products has' gone forward beyond all bounds.