February 17^th 1935

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF JAPANESE IMMIGRATION TO HAWAII

Since the arrival of the first ship-load of “government contract labour in February 1885, until the 26th Immigrant boat “Miike Maru” in the early part of 1894, some 29,032 Japanese poured into Hawaii. During the next three years from 1896 private immigration companies looked after the immigrants, and brought here 40,208 Japanese. In July 1898, Hawaii was annexed to the United Slates. The contract labour was forbidden, and over-night, Japanese labourers in Hawaii became free labourers. Children, born in the islands, were granted the right of American citizenship.

For a time being, the Japanese government restricted the immigration to Hawaii, but the bar was lifted in the latter part of 1901, and a limited number of Japanese was allowed to leave Japan. Within the short period of five or six years more than 40,000 Japanese came. The majority of these Japanese made Hawaii their stepping-stone and deluged the Pacific coast states. In 1907 the ‘Gentleman’s Agreement” was drawn up, and the immigrants from Japan were stopped. With the passage of the Immigration Act in 1924, Japanese were excluded from the United States. Not a single Japanese Immigrant can now come into Hawaii.

Looking back at the past half a century, the Japanese have gone through many striking changes. They have built up slowly, the foundation of today, but industrially they have not accomplished anything very striking. Only in population, have the Japanese beaten other nationalities. Out of some 15.000 Japanese only a third are first generation Japanese. Death has removed many of them; others have gone back to Japan. But the second and third generation Japanese are increasing steadily. Over 10,000 are now exercising their right as voters, and many engaged in hopeful occupations. These facts are most encouraging, and they strengthen our hope of the future.

However today, the Japanese both of the first and second generation are being put to a test. They are, in the words of the streets, “being put on the spot.” They are seriously been questioned:

a. Have the Japanese during the past fifty years made an honest effort toward assimilation?

b. Are the Japanese born in Hawaii truly loyal American citizens, or can they become absolutely loyal to America?

c. Are the Japanese bringing up their children into good and loyal American citizens?

The future of the Japanese in Hawaii, and the relations between the two countries depend on the solution of these two problems. Japanese have been excluded from Canada. Australia, America and Brazil. The chief reason is that “Japanese do not assimilate,” for example, let us quote some of the outstanding arguments.

1. Mr. McClatchy. Editor of ” Sacramento Bee,” holds that the Japanese as a race cannot assimilate. He gives three reasons:

a. “Japanese racial characteristics, heredity and religion prevent social assimilation,

b. “Japanese government claims all Japanese, no matter where born, as its citizens, thus preventing political assimilation.

c.“Individually and in mass with opportunity offered and even when born under the American flag, they have shown pronounced antagonism to assimilation.”

2. After his extensive tour of Hawaii in July, 1923 the late Congressman Charles F. Curry of California stated:

“I do not think there is any possibility of Americanising the Hawaiian Japanese who were born in Japan. While a majority of them may not wish to return to Japan, they are nevertheless loyal to the Mikado ant their government, and Japan is first in their thoughts at all times. This is only natural in as much as they speak an alien language and live among the alien people.

“In so far as the native-born Japanese are concerned; that portion of them who are sent back to Japan for their education and return to the United States just before the time when they would be required for army service are also alien in thought and sympathy. Same result must be expected of those who are educated even in Hawaii under the alien influences. Public Schools in Hawaii should exert their utmost endeavour to correct these evils. Y. M.C.A. and Sunday Schools are called upon to pay particular attention to them.

“I am convinced more than ever that aliens ineligible to citizenship should be excluded in the future, and that an immediate stop should be placed upon the bringing of ‘picture brides’. All Oriental influences must be stamped out.

3. In this argument against the injunction proceeding instituted by the language schools against the Act 36, ex-Governor W. F. Frear said:

“The most important problem of this territory is the character of the children who are to become our future citizens. Whether Hawaii will have a commission form of government, or whether she will be granted statehood will be largely determined by the character of our future citizens. Will these citizens of Oriental descent act as the United States citizens or as the subject of Japan, or as citizens half-American and half-Japanese is a most Important problem?”

Today the questions of commission form of government and the statehood are being widely discussed. Naturally the qualifications and loyalty of our second-generation are seriously questioned. We can easily surmise that President Roosevelt came here primarily to make a personal check on the problems of our second generation.

“To the eyes of those who came here to give us an once-over, do the Japanese in Hawaii seem to be making honest efforts assimilate, and are they actually assimilating? Or as Mr Frear feared, does it look as though the Japanese are trying their outmost to become subjects of Japan or citizens half-American? Are we able to pass these tests?

“When a person is living in a room of a large family, he must follow the rules of that home. Otherwise he can never get along harmoniously with the others living in the home. We are living today in a corner of American territory under the protection of America and are enjoying many privileges. We have an obligation to perform. That is we must try to assimilate and bring our children up into good and loyal American citizens. In a sense our boys and girls are adopted children of America, and we must see to it that they become simon-pure American citizens. If we perform this task sincerely we would be rendering a great service to both America and Japan.”

On the eve of his departure from Seattle, Viscount Kikujiro Ishii said:

“The Americanisation campaign which is now going on in the United States is a nation-wide movement. As long as you are residents of America you must make your status clear. If you desire to assimilate, you must make up your mind to live here permanently. If you can not assimilate, you ought to return to Japan.”

Today Japanese in Hawaii are displaying Japanese spirit in full colour. This may be the reaction of the rise of nationalism in Japan. Many of the Japanese schools have become Japanised. Imperial rescript is boldly read and taught in some of the schools. Some teachers have openly declared that they are teaching Japanese spirit through the medium of the Japanese language. This audacity may he the result of their mistaken idea of victory in the legal battle. If the Japanese go on in the present conditions, they will fail miserably in the test. Politically and socially America may oppress the Japanese. The doors of Canada, Australia and South American countries may be closed more and more tightly. We must think more of the future and remove every obstacle that hinders our real progress.

All sorts of suggestions on the ways and means of celebrating the Fiftieth anniversary of the first landing of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii have commenced to appear in the various newspapers. It is a splendid thing to observe this memorable day. As a fitting celebration can the Japanese throughout the territory get together and work for the radical change our community? As Ishii has said: “Let’s remove every trace of alien influence and attitude” and expatriate all our children from their allegiance to Japan. Then we will be declaring to the world that the “Japanese can truly assimilate” and that “our children can become loyal citizens.” This will be more suitable work than having a noisy festival.

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JAPANESE EMPIRE IN THE BALANCE.

Crisis seen in relations with the white powers

Ravages of exploitation.

Task of Asia's Saviour.

(By Ishihara Koichiro, President of the Ishihara trading

and Navigation Company, Limited)

The world has witnessed the conquest, by the white races of the coloured peoples. Japan, too, was once treated as if she were a dominion of the white races, having been subjected to extraterritorial jurisdiction on the part of the Occidental countries. Japan was even forced by powerful foreign countries to return territory legitimately acquired as war indemnity.

Again, our people were employed as guards of the white races in the Far East. More recently during the Great War our country made great sacrifices dispatching warships to the distant Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. Thus working on the side of the allied nations, Japan did everything in her power to win victory for them. Not withstanding this fact, the white races after the close of the war, insinuated that Japan participated because of her territorial designs on Siberia, China and the South Sea islands. All they did in the way of compensation for our country was the transfer to Japanese mandate some isolated South Sea Islands.

Worse, they even went to the length of denying racial equality to which she is entitled in the light of international justice and humanity. The rights and interests rightfully obtained by our country in Manchuria were flouted China, who ran amok. This culminated in the Manchurian affair, which in turn resulted in the independence of Manchukuo. It is further undeniable that, in the dispute between Japan and China, the white nations constantly supported China with the intent to embarrass Japan.

Our Country has thus long put up to insults on the part the white races, but we cannot stand it forever. In the Manchurian Affair, Japan was completely isolated, 42 countries having ranged themselves against her. Under the circumstances, our country finally withdrew from the League of Nations at present it stands in a military position, internationally speaking.

The foreign countries of late have been doing all in their power to exclude Japanese goods by raising the tariff wall in adopting an import quota. They are also enforcing a racial wall exclusion policy against the Japanese through prohibition of Japanese immigrants and instituting economic restrictive measures. Though the League of Nations has been endeavouring to place Japan in difficulties, its impotency has been evident at every turn. The decadence of the white races is clearly evident.

Although the foreign Powers are trying to exclude Japanese merchandise through tariff barriers and import quotas, they will be unable to cope with the economic power based on the great productive ability combined with cheap cost. They are unable to maintain a solid front due to their cheap cost. They are unable to maintain a solid front due to their mutual selfishness, with the result that it helps unwittingly to accelerate the advance of Japanese goods in the world markets. The restriction and prohibition of Japanese immigration by the whites is further proof of their fear that they cannot compete with Japanese in work. Japan’s present solitary position, international, economic and racial in the nature of things stimulates Japan to greater activity and advance.

Diplomacy based on Justice

Diplomacy should always be based on harmony and co-operation, and not on strife. International strife, that is war, is a disaster for mankind. International questions should be settled as far as possible through peaceful diplomatic channels, not through war. It is evident, however, that settlement of international questions is impossible unless the State concerned has national power, both economic and military, if settlement through diplomatic channels is sought.

Up to present, the white Powers have been oppressing the coloured races, and through exploitation of the latter have enjoyed luxury and prosperity. In boycotting Japanese merchandise, the whites are dictated solely by the desire to sell their expensive goods to the coloured races in their colonies, and it is thus patent that they totally disregard the interests of their subject races. Their oppression of Japan is practically tantamount to the oppression of the colored races as a whole. The white Powers are still pursuing a dogmatic, self-seeking, and oppressive policy. To bring the white races to their senses, Japan’s diplomacy must be strong.

The white races have so far been pursuing an imperialistic and aggressive policy; the white races command vast areas for themselves, and have closed the door against immigrants from other countries. On this account, the Japanese are confined in a narrow area. All men, however, have an equal right to live, and it is no way unreasonable to exercise this right and demand that the white countries open up their colonies to other people. There surely is no harm in demanding the right of equality for all mankind, and this is and should be the sacred mission of the Japanese race. The Japanese have not the least intention of establishing a world for themselves alone. We must insist, however, that the white races recognize mankind’s equality of right, as well as freedom of trade. And should the whites turn down this request, the Japanese will have to be in readiness to safeguard such necessity through exercise of the right of existence.

Japan does not seek war. But should Japan be refused her right to equality, even though she tries to gain it by peaceful diplomatic means, she will certainly fear national insecurity of living. Japan must strengthen her national power in order to avoid war.

Equal right to Armaments

Unequal armaments based on the London and Washington treaties are insisted upon by Britain and America in order to support their unreasonable vested rights. At the time our country was obliged to conclude such agreements with them, having been unable to withstand their pressure. Fortunately, however, the two agreements are to expire in 1936. And to take the place of the unequal agreements, equal rights to armaments should be gained. In all probability, however, this should, in such a case, the two countries bring pressure to bear upon us – though we think it will be found impossible in view of the actual situation – we shall have to rise and hold our own against them. This is absolutely necessary for the racial development of our people. Even if Britain and America should resort to force against Japan, we need not fear, nay it should be rather advantageous to our country if we try to settle the issue by force, though it is a fact that the supreme policy of our country is to realise our ends without having to recourse to war, if such be possible. In order to attain our ends without using force, it is absolutely necessary to consolidate and strengthen our national defence and to join hands with countries, which have identical interests.

The Soviet Union, founded on the principle of Communism, is the only country the political principles of which are utterly incompatible with the constitution of Japan. She is a constant menace to Manchukuo. As a result, tension exists.

The basis on which the Soviet Union was originally formed was a purely theoretical socialism belonging to the schools of thought of Marx and Engels. In view of the fact, however, that the welfare of the masses and the sound development of a nation are impossible under such theoretical “isms”, the Soviet Union gas already shifted to state capitalism, under which she is concentrating her efforts ont eh development of heave industry by setting at naught the welfare of the nation. In, consequence Russia is in dire straits. The sound growth of a nation is impossible when its people are in a financially exhausted condition. It is considered inevitable that the Soviet Union will have to depart from state capitalism to some other form of “ism”. Viewing the Soviet Union from this angle, it is problematical whether communism will hold good in the future.

The fact that the Soviet Union at present plots to menace and upset Manchukuo does not necessarily mean that she is prepared to wage war with Japan. It means on the contrary that she is obsessed with the nightmare of a Japanese invasion into Siberia. The independence of Siberia might be measure to perpetuate the peace of the Soviet-Manchukuo border, but it would involve great sacrifices on the part of Japan. It is open to doubt whether the independence of Siberia is worthy of such sacrifices. For there are other things requiring earlier solutions.

To put it briefly, Japan must first further Soviet penetration into the Far East. There is no doubt that a Soviet invasion into the Far East has been a constant subject of study for Russia since the Russo-Japanese War. From these considerations, the Soviet Union had better spend less on her military arrangements in her Far Eastern territory, redouble her efforts of expansion from the far East into Persia. In that case, Japan should be willing to supply the Soviet Union with whatever the latter wants. If the Soviet Union is a liberty to advance on Persia, she will have nothing more to desire. A rapprochement between the two nations both in letter and spirit is in the cause of their mutual benefits. Further, in all likelihood, it will affect more or less British rule over India. Then the Soviet-Japanese rapprochement would serve as a check against the highhanded policy of Britain in the East, undoubtedly ushering in better relation between Japan and China.

Germany’s Courageous Action

Germany, the loser in the World War, was ostracized by the Powers as a violator of peace and had to bear the stupendous burden of war reparations. She as stripped of all her colonies and was completely disarmed. Her patience having been exhausted at last, Hitler courageously divorced Germany from the League of Nations and decided not to pay war reparations. Isolated, Germany is now desperately trying to cut her way out of her impasse. She at present has no colonies, while she tops the list of European nations in point of population density (sic). Nor is she in a position to be on a self-sufficing basis. Her international position from all angles closely resembles that of Japan. Hence, there is room for rapprochement. German-Japanese co-operation is not only a step to save Germany from total collapse, but it is an effective step for Japan to arrest the advance of the United States, Britain, France and Italy into the Asiatic continent.

It would also consolidate Germany’s position in Europe, enabling the Soviet Union to advance on Persia with greater ease. In this sense, a perfect rapprochement among Japan, the Soviet Union and Germany is an absolute essential to the stabilization of Japan’s position in international politics, prevention of war among the nations and restoration of the principle of freedom of trade.

Of late, some improvement is noticeable in Anglo-Japanese relations, and the resuscitation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is rumoured. Against such rumours we cannot be too cautious. True, the two nations concluded an alliance years ago, but Japan had to act as a mere guard for British colonies lying in the Orient. What is worse, Japan, because of the alliance, had no alternative, but to involve herself in the World War by sacrificing a great deal, materially and otherwise. After the close of the war, however, Britain on her own initiative abrogated the alliance as a gesture of amity towards the United States.

At present, the British colonies in the Orient are in a state of unrest.. It may be on this account that the restoration of the alliance has come to be considered necessary. Japan then must be cautious against such a proposal. The economic interests of the two countries are not compatible. Japan’s policy must be designed to stop the tendency of the British colonies and dominions to boycott Japanese goods, remove the tariffs and all other barriers which Britain has set up in such lands, and to establish the principle of the Open Door and Equal Opportunity in Australia. The resuscitation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is meaningless unless Britain reconsiders her attitude and upholds the principle of free trade and free immigration.

War must be Avoided

Rumours of a warlike outbreak between two Pacific nations are afloat in some quarters, but it must be born in mind that a war, if it actually occurs will not benefit the victorious nation although it will involve, unbearable sacrifices. Every effort should be made by Japan to preclude such ominous possibilities. But if the United States challenges Japan to war, Japan of course will have to take up the challenge. It behooves Japan to map out such a policy towards the United States as it may prevent feelings of animosity from prevailing.

An old saying has it that there is nothing more uncontrollable than a woman. China is like an unchaste woman. She is a sycophant before the stronger, and a braggart before the weaker. In dealing with such a nation it is necessary for Japan to strike her first and then caress and coddle her. Under present circumstances, it is unnecessary to adopt any particular measures against China, but if the latter plots some sinister action in reliance on the United States and European Powers, Japan must reply. If a perfect Soviet-Japanese rapprochement results from the stabilization of the situation in Manchukuo and if Japan succeeds in opening the doors of India, the South Sea Islands and Australia, China will naturally curry favour with China.

To make a long story short, the future foreign policy for Japan to follow should be along the following lines:

1. Rapprochement between Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union.

2. Establishment of diplomatic autonomy in dealing with Britain and the United States.

3. Restoration of armament equality.

4. Establishment of racial equality and restoration of free trade principle

5. Racial unification of the entire Asiatic continent in order to save the coloured races from the ravages of exploitation by the whites.

6. (Translated by Contemporary Opinion, Tokyo)

The Japanese Weekly Chronicle, December 13^th 1934.

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China

(Mr Archie Rose gave these details of the position in China to Gareth.) date uncertain.?1933/34.

1. Present Situation

After six months of active civil war, with Nanking on the one side and the Christian General Fung and the Model Governor Yen on the other, China settled down in the middle of September to a truce. That truce was made possible by the sudden intervention of the Young Marshall of Manchuria, Chang Hsueh-liang on the side of Nanking. Nanking and Mukden have now reached an agreed settlement as to their respective rights and responsibilities. Manchuria will administer, and will retain the revenues from, all the railways as far south as Tsinanfu (including the Shantung railway); and as far west as Chentow on the Shansi border. Manchuria will also retain, or have remitted by Nanking, the whole or considerable proportion of taxes from Salt and Tobacco; the customs revenues are so largely pledged nowadays for foreign and domestic debt that there is probably very little surplus to be divided. The point is however there is an agreed peace between the only two real combatants remaining in the field. Fung and Yen are still in Shansi Province and still retain a certain proportion of their old armies, but they are hard put to it for money, and no resistance is likely in the near future. We say that the general position is healthier than it has been since the Revolution in 1911.

2. Forces against the Government

The main difficulty of the Government is the extreme poverty of the people caused by 10 years of civil war. The farmers have become disheartened because they cannot get their crops transported on the railways; merchants and traders have restricted all enterprise owing to the lack of security; and the main medium of exchange – silver – has vanished from the countryside and is all locked up in the banks in Shanghai. Poverty has bred general dissatisfaction, which has shown itself in various forms, notably in banditry and communism. The bandits are mainly disbanded soldiers who have retained their rifles. The communists are mainly disgruntled young men who have learned a good deal of their vocabulary and a certain amount of their ideas from Russia. Communism and banditry are now being dealt with in a vigorous way by the Government. They have divided the country up into small areas, in which the old-fashioned Chinese methods of mutual responsibility are enforced, and there seems a fair prospect that the Government will be able to cope with these troubles before long.

3. Chances of Stability

Nanking has reached an agreed with Manchuria. The Government at Nanking contains number of very able men, including the President Chiang Kai-shek and the Minister of Finance, T.V.Soong. The President has proved himself a soldier. Mr Soong has proved himself a financier of quite outstanding ability. Quotations on the Stock Exchange will show that the Chinese credit stands wonderfully high in spite of civil war and all the other disadvantages. There is only one real black spot in regard to the credit position, the railway credit, but of that later. Mr Soong is making heroic efforts to cut down military expenses and balance the budget. It seems likely that he will succeed. There is an intense self-consciousness in China at the present moment and it is called “National Consciousness”. It manifests itself principally by antagonism to something else, which it calls “Imperialism.” Imperialism can be roughly defined as anything, which appears to the Chinese to conflict with their quick development as a nation, politically, industrially, commercially and socially. We cannot prophesy about China. She has made rapid progress towards stability within the last two years. Whether she remains stable, will depend, to some extent at least, on the attitude of the world towards her. If we want her to be strong we better get behind the Central Government at Nanking and help it in every possible way. Moral help will go along way. Financial help will also go a long way. There is no need for military adventures.

4. Railways

The mileage of railways is small, only about 10,000 kilometres. But the railway system is very important because it links up with the Trans-Siberian Railway at Harbin and runs down south to the Yangtze. Control of he railways is the deciding factor in civil war. Free operation of the Railways on the other hand is the one thing that makes the internal and external trade of China possible. The railways are now in a thoroughly run-down condition. They are the best paying railways in the world, and yet they are badly in default as regards interest on bonds, and their debts for materials run into several million pounds. The first constructive act, which is necessary in China, is the restoration of the railways to commercial use. This will involve money and the support of the government in maintaining control.

5. Silver

China is now the only silver using country in the world. The value of Silver in relation to Gold is greatly depreciated for various reasons. The Chinese Dollar, which not long ago was worth 2 shilling, is now worth 1 shilling. It will be seen that England, which produces on a Gold basis, must either receive double the amount of Dollars from its Chinese customers (i.e. multiply its Silver price by 2) or else cut its Gold cost of production by half. It is impossible to raise prices just now in China because the country and the people are too poor. There seems little prospect also of reducing production costs radically at home. This does not mean that trade has stopped – far from it. It is increasing every year, but it is badly handicapped by cheap Silver. This fairly generally held by practical men that no artificial method of bolstering up silver would have effect for long. The best way of helping Silver would be to get China on her feet again. As soon as her internal trade begins to move there will be immense demand for Silver all over China and the price will begin to rise in relation to Gold – which would have a quick effect on Chinese foreign trade and on British exports.

6. Chinese-Russian Relations

China and Russia have a long common frontier and have always been watchful of one another. From 1924 to 1927 Russia gained a definite ascendency in China, chiefly owing to the successful personal work of two men, Borodin, a political organiser, and Galens, (General Blucher) a soldier. Between them they put the Nationalist party on the map and deserved well of Nanking. They crashed because the Chinese discovered unquestionable evidence that they are working really for Russian domination in China and not in order to make China a strong and independent nation as they had claimed.

There is probably very little direct Russian influence in China at the moment. They still control the Chinese-Eastern Railway, the Chinese are boycotting it and its financial is growing weaker day by day. That is their only big economic interest in China. Politically they maintain an unostentatious flow of propagandists between Moscow and China, and thus tend to keep up a certain Bolshevik atmosphere, especially among the young. This will not be a very serious factor provided that poverty is replaced by prosperity.

7 Chinese-British Relations.

Our interest in China is the China market. It is the most elastic market in the world and has marvellous powers of recuperation. The revival of British trade in China is entirely dependent on the restoration of general conditions of security in China. This can only be accomplished in a quick and practical way by holding the Nanking Government to its obligations and helping it to fulfil those obligations. By helping it to get control of the railways, to put them in order, to extend them and to use them for commercial purposes. Peace, trade, railways and Silver are all part of the same problem in China – a problem which we can only help forward by backing up Nanking and seeing that it plays up to its responsibilities.