JAPAN LOOKING OVERSEAS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 5

JAPAN LOOKING OVERSEAS

DELICATE PROBLEM FOR UNITED STATES ■- ("Daily News" Correspondent.) New YorK. Tho difficulty between the United States and Japan deserves careful attention A proposed grant of land in Mexican California to a. Japanese syndicate is tinder close investigation by -the State Department at Washington.- An existing agreement between Tokio and Washington effectively limits Japanese .immigration directly into this country. Americans do, howover, fear such .immigration by Japanese across tho Mexican frontier. Tho immigrants would then be classified, not as Japanese, but as naturalised Mexicans. Anart from economic objections, there is a profound belief that the Japanese element in America cannot be absorbed conveniently by inter-marriage. This applies also to Chinese. Marriages do tako place, but are disliked. The problem, therefore, goes deeper.than' naval and military strategy.. Nor is it any satisfaction to Americans, especially in California, that tho land in Mexico is not wanted by the Japanese Government for any official purpose. Ono complication is the.fact that the territory in question seems to be iu some part identical with a concession made by a former Mexican Administration to an American syndicate, tho California and Mexican Land Company of Los Angeles. On April 7, 1917, Carranza cancelled this American concession, although it is alleged that tho American company had spent over.a million dollars in irrigation. This action is among the aggravating circumstances of which Americans in Mexico complain. The threatening of an income tax on the oil fields is another case.

A 9 already announced an important international''banking association 4las been formed, including Mr. Morgan, lo watch the Mexican situation. The President has steadily resisted the pressure of interests which would involve America in difficulties with Mexico. If capitalists put money into disturbed countries Ihoy must tako'tho risk. But a Japanese complication introduces popular feeling and might involve Britain. Mr. Hearst suggests thnt a British Alliance with Japan is detrimental to America. lie has favoured intervention in Mexico, where some sav- that his group has property. From private reports I judge that feeline; 0" the Mexican border is disturbed, Bii.t the importance of Wild West incidents should not be exaggerated. They <10, however, irritate the law-abiding population of Texas. Travelling is some, times dangerous. All this furnishes ma lerial for iiiteruontionist propaganda Americans-believe that Japan' lias long desired a definite foothold in Califo T "ih. In 1912 her objective was Jlngdalena Bay, but this was stopped by.the now innm.ii Lodge resolution, which becomes a second Monroe doctrine. Mr. Chandler, president of the American Company, states that they will not. sell to Japan unless the American Government agree-!. This means that the proposed cancellation by Mexico of theVAmericnn title to the property did not take effect. It is also doubtful whether the Japanese purchasers would proceed against: tin) manifest wishes of the American people.