PACIFIC PROBLEMS

Southland Times, Issue 18964, 11 June 1923, Page 5

PACIFIC PROBLEMS

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE JAPAN AND EXPANSION (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 9. (Received June 10, *5.5 p.m.) By arrangement with the Morning Post the Australian Press Association begins a 1 series of articles on new problems created | in the Pacific as a result of the Great War, I the Washington Agreement and the desire I of the Japanese Empire for expansion. The j articles have been written by a special correspondent, who has just returned after a prolonged visit to Japan, China, Singapore • and the Far East generally, which was i undertaken for the purpose of studying on i the spot those problems. I 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 it was the Admiralty’s determination to convert Singapore into a naval base to maintain British prestige and to protect the British trade in the Pacific waters, a determination which met with strong opposition from those who ’ look no farther than Europe and imag ne that the natural defensive and 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 i Home cr abroad was the delivery of an j address by Professor Hishinuma to Japan j Society in London entitled “Main Features ' of the Japanese Problem,” in which Hishinuma stated that unless some of the 1 Western nations realised their mistaken ati tiude toward Eastern nations .the struggle | between East and West would involve the whole of humanity in the most disastrous I war the world had ever seen. This address, • doubtless by a coincidence, followed closely • the public announcement of the develop- ' ment of the Singapore scheme. Therefore, i it is not inappropriate to endeavour to visuI alise the main features of the Japanese and • other Pacific problems from an English- ; American viewpoint. The population of : the main Japanese Islands is steadily in--1 creasing to an astonishing degree and at ' the present moment there are about 360 | inhabitants to the square mile, although j only about 16 per cent, of the land is available for habitation and cultivation. The same population problem at various times i in history has presented itself to England I and Germany, and other great nations. The Japanese from a similarity of their geographical situation 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. The 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 and 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 and not for settlement. Korea’s main value to Japan is strategic, it serves as an excellent backdoor fortress and also as a direct connecting link with Southern Manchuria and the northern provinces of China. The Korean railways are a great tribute to Japanese engineering and military foresight. Formosa can absorb very little more immigration since its interior is mostly mountains and forests. Here, again, Japan’s main advantage as an island is its strategic situation in relation to the Philippines, Hong Kong and Fukien. Her mandatory islands in the Pacific are of little use from a migration standpoint. I Where then is she to look? Canada, United States of South America or Australia? In these countries in a greater or a lesser degree the white man has won for himself from nature a position and is living by his own efforts and without any outside assistance. He found in them indigenous native populations which did no work and rapidly deteriorated; further the white man knows his chance of existence is to keep up the racial standard and he regards coloured immigration from Asia as the precursor of a lowered living standard and a debasing of the blood standard. It is true I that there has been a limited admission of both Chinese and Japanese in the countries mentioned but it is seldom found that these immigrants become real citizens of their adopted country, while from their habits of living they are almost always able to do some white man out of a job. Is it any wonder, therefore, that the Governments of Canada, United States and Australia refuse to consider the possibility of further Chinese or Japanese immigration? Japan might say, as Hishinuma recently declared, that she would limit the number of her immigrants 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, therefore, seem to be no immediate chance iof Japan obtaining an outlet for her population in any of the countries mentioned. The Japanese are realising this, and are beginning to consider why a few hundred miles of sea separating them from China shbuld prevent their gradually obtaining control of the middle kingdom herself. China is a vast potential 1 reservoir of labour and only awaits an inspired organisation to produce goods of all kinds at prices, which, in the Pacific at least, would undercut ' every other productive nation on the face cf the earth and Japan, who is most racially akin, desires this powerhouse for herself. In spite of China’s large population it is possible for a considerable number of Japanese to be absorbed, while a large number of Japanese who otherwise would be wcrkless could be profitably employed in Japanese industries and fed by Chinese raw materials. There is yet another remedy, birth control, but this does not find favour in Japanese eyes and it does not affect her surplus population of to-day.