CROWDED JAPAN

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 11 June 1923, Page 5

CROWDED JAPAN

DESIRE FOR EXPANSION,

PEOPLING WASTE PLACES,

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION■-COPYRIGHT LONDON. June 9. By arrangement with the Morning s Post the Australian Press Association begins a series of articles on the new f problems created in the Pacific as a : result of the Great War, the Washing- , ton agreement and the desire of th€ Japanese Empire for expansion. The articles have been written by a special , correspondent, who has just returned after a prolonged visit to Japan, China, i Singapore and the Far East generally, undertaken for the purpose of studying on the spot those problems. The first article states: — Within the last two months two events have occurred which should serve to focus the British Empire's thoughts on the- Far East. In the first place was the Admiralty's determination to convert Singapore into a naval base to maintain British prestige and protect British trade in Pacific waters, a determination which met with strong opposition from those who look no farther than Europe and imagine that the natural defensive aerial measures of another great Power may have a. sinister intent towards a late comrade in arms. The second event, which probably attracted but little attention either at home or abroad, was the delivery of an address by Professor Hishinuma to the Japan Society in London, entitled "The Main Features of the Japanese Problem,'' in which Professor Hishinuma stated that unless some of the Western nations realised their mistaken attitude toward the Eastern nations a struggle between East and West would involve the wl.'ole of humanity in the most disastrous Avar the world had ever seen. This address, doubtless by coincidence, followed closely the public announcement of the development of the Singapore scheme, and therefore it is not inappropriate toen deavour to visualise the main features of Japanese and other Pacific 2>roblems from the English and American viewpoint. j The population of the main Japanese islands is steadily increasing to an as-' tonishing degree, and at the present moment there are about 360 inhabitants to a square mile, although only about sixteen per cent, of the land is available i'ur habitation and cultivation. The same population problem at various times in history has presented itself in England, Germany, and other great nations. The Japanese, from the similarity of their geographical sitiiation, have closely studied England's remedy for over-population, and are beginning to feel aggrieved that they have no overseas dominions to cope with would-be emigrants. Tli© time is not far distant when it will be impossible for the average adult male Japanese to find work or wages within his own isles under present conditions. He is therefore constantly scanning the surrounding countries of the world for an outlet. Korea serves only in a. limited sense as a field for exploitation, but not for settlement. j Korea's main value to Japan is strategic. It serves as an excellent back-door fortress and also as a direct connecting link with southen Manchuria and the northern provinces of China, j The Korean railways are a great tribute to Japanese engineering and military foresight. Formosa can absorb very little more immigration, since its in-' terior is mostly mountains and forests. Here again. Japan's main advantage in the island is its strategic situation. The Philippines, Hongkong and Fukien, her mandatory islands in the Pacific, are of little use from a migration standpoint. Where, then, is she to look? Canada, the United States, South America, or Australia? In these countries, in a greater or lesser degree, the white man has won for himself from Nature a position and living by his own efforts and without outside assistance. He found them indigenous native populations, which did no work and rapidly deteriorated. Further, the white man knows his chance of existence is to> keep up a racial standard, and he regards coloured immigration from Asia as a. precursor pf a lowered living standard and a debasing blood standard, It is true there has been a limited admission of both Chinese and Japanance into the countries mentioned, but it is seldom found that those immigrants become real citizens of their adopted county, while from their habits of living they are almost always able 'to do some white man out of his job. Is it any wonder, therefore, that the \ Governments of Canada, the United States and Australia refuse to consider the possibility of further Chinese or Japanese immigration ? Japan might say, as Professor Hisbinuma recently declared, that she would limit the number of her migrants so as not to disturb the peace of her ; neighbours. The objection to this is ' that she could not possibly impose a limit agreeable to all, and Asiatics are ,by no means celibates. There would I therefore seem to be no immediate • chance of Japan obtaining an outlet fot r her population in any of the countries mentioned. 1 The Japanese, realising this, will be - gin to consider why the few hundret " miles of sea separating them fron 3 China should prevent their gradually 1 obtaining control of the middle kingdon 3 herself. China is a vast potential re servoir of labour, and only awaits in spired organisation to produce goods o c all kinds at prices which, in the Paei d fie at least, would undercut every othe ■> productive nation on the face of th '' earth, and Japan, who is most raciall; akin, desires this powerhouse for hei ' self. '- In spite of China's large population v it is still possible for a considerable number of Japanese to be absorbed

while the large number of Japanese who would otherwise be workless could be profitably employed iii Japanese industries, fed by Chinese raw material. There is yet another remedy, birth control, but this does not find favour in Japanese eyes and it does not affect the surplus population of to-day.