JAPAN MENACED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3378, 6 January 1920, Page 7

JAPAN MENACED.

UNREST AMONG WORKERS, RESULTS or DEAR: FOOD. " Mr George T. Marsh, of San Fr:a:n~ cisco, who has been familiar with Japanese aflairs for forty years-, returned from a trip to Tokio recently, ‘and had much to say on conditions and prospects in the ‘Empire of the Mikado. “Existing conditions’ in J::l»pa.n,” said Mr Marsh, “are menacing. The old regime has been supplanted by a. new Socialistic spirit, and money is now the idol of a people who fornierly idolised their Emperor. “The war has brought a tremendous influx of’ industrial prosperity. There was no food aclministna:tion, such as obtained in the United States. A Great demand for riue entailed large exports. Rice is the staplclfood of the Workers. There was .not enough left to feed all. Hunger to the labouring classes ensued upon’ prosperity to the speculators, and~ thereupon ensu.e:d n*a'tioml~l discomfort.

“Had the "existing Government had the wisdom ‘of its pl'eclOCGSSol's and taken such protective steps as,would have shown the people that their interests were at thl‘ heart of their rulers, all would have been well. As it is, grunblings against the Government, and strikes on all sides have been the outcome. The Government crux‘.-ted its own Labour Party, enacted laws against strikes, but borrowerl trouble by taking‘ nomCas_lll'o to meet the steadily advancing cost of living. Undoubtedly the GOYCl‘Iln10<!lt will shortly have to concede to the ClClllallCl.‘§ of the labouring classes, but each _e'one,ession will be followed by further demands, not only from the laboilriiig classes, but from others. “I look for much internal unrest and dissensions within the .ne';\'t two years, and should such unrest reach a revolutionary stage it would mean more in Japan than elsewhere, because the masses of Japan are fanatic ide«a=lists." 1“ . A‘ ' ‘ Korea, Mr Marsh says, lS,l‘lllS'goV(.‘l'll‘ ed. “The Japane_se__havc studied and understand Western nations perhaps better than those nations understand themselves;—but they overlook matters nearer home, and are hopelessly ignorant of the psychology of ‘Korea. The fact that the Japanese discriminate in favour of their own people in trade matters over the Koreans in their -own country is the most. damning example of Japanese ineptitude. Japan's god today is money.” . ' The interiiatioiialisation. Hof all Chinese and foreign concessions, Mr Marsh opines, niight help to solve the Slnlntung difliculty. “But if such :9; bread movement is impossible just. now, Japa.n——-if sincere in . -,er protestatioiis of good fvaitli in promoting the future Welfare ‘and happiness of China—ean seize thg golden. opportunity by returning. Tsingtao, as promised, and agrees, through the Allies, to return to China all the landed interests and concessions acquired by her during the war, provided she, Japan, is reimbursed for expenses, and that the Allies internationalise or restore to China those interests and concessions. ” ‘ Mr Marsh‘ points out that Japan has natural and justifiable ambitions for settlement in Siberia. She lacks room for her population, land may be excused for her desire t 0 utilise 501116 of the Vast areas of Siberia which have remained undeveloped for ages”.