Apparently one of the chief bogey-men of the nineteenth century is to be refurbished. The Italian Chamber of Deputies was told by the committee on paid expenditures that "Japan today invades China; inspired by race hatred, she will plan tomorrow against white men." The reason for this revival of the Yellow Peril is, of course, the realization that the realistically minded Japanese have managed in spite of the Washington Treaty to build a field which is, in all likelihood, the equal of any in the world today, and the fact that Japanese commercial competition, particularly in the field of textiles, threatens to drive European products from the market. The Italian outburst is typical of world feeling toward Japan; England, seeing her textile market in India ruined by the infiltration of Japanese goods and Lancashire weavers jobless by the thousand while Japanese cloth undersells British in Manchester, is sufficiently alarmed to talk seriously of abrogating the Anglo-Japanese commercial treaty; in France and the United States sentiment is the same.
The result of this bitterness against Japan will probably be a commercial boycott by the leading powers; Japan, desperately struggling for some sort of economic existence, cannot afford to have her markets cut off in this summary fashion; it would mean, quite simply, that she would not be able to make both ends meet. For Japan this is not merely a dispute over a lucrative trade but a veritable fight for economic life. Denied her present outlet she must expand elsewhere--which can mean only China, and inevitable collision with Russia.
Condemning Japan and blathering about the Yellow Peril is as senseless as it is unfair. Forced to open itself to the Western world, and then forced to industrialize so that its land and resources have become hopelessly inadequate for supporting its rapidly increasing population, the history of Japan must appear as tragedy on a grand scale. Particularly if one accepts the definition of tragedy as the collision of two goods--or, in this case, of the collision of two inevitable forces.
* * *
The convening of Congress and the accession of Mr. LaGuardia as mayor of New York City find the executive wing of the government triumphant over the legislative in both city and national affairs. Mr. LaGuardia has demanded what amounts to dictatorial power over the finances of the city of New York, and it seems extremely likely that he will get it, for the credit of the city is in such a sad state that heroic measures must be resorted to in order to save it.
In confronting Congress Mr. Roosevelt finds himself in an unsually strong position. He has dealt with the inflation problem in such a manner as to befuddle both its exponents and its proponents, despite the fact that vigorous abuse has been leveled at him by both factions. The idea of devaluating the dollar was a very clever one indeed, for no one--least of all the economists--was quite sure just what it meant. While it is most doubtful if it has accomplished anything tangible, its general effect has been to quiet both parties and thus avoid an open conflict between them.
Mr. Roosevelt's program, on the whole, has been one of a temporizing nature. It has not pleased everyone but it has kept anyone from doing anything very violent. If a certain sort of pacification has been Mr. Roosevelt's aim then he has succeeded without any doubt; but if his aim has been to bring about some permanent and supposedly beneficial change in the national government he has failed rather completely and competently.
Read more in News
Debaters To Engage Columbia Over Broadcasting Network