One is constantly reminded of the situation between England and Germany in the years before 1914.  The Germans wanted to acquire a colonial empire by means similar to those which we had employed; so do the Japanese.  We considered such methods wicked when employed by foreigners; so do the Americans.  The Germans developed their industries and roused our hostility by competition; the Japanese are similarly competing with America in Far Eastern markets.  The Germans felt themselves encircled by our alliances, which we regarded as purely defensive; the Japanese, similarly, found themselves isolated at Washington (except for French sympathy) since the superior diplomatic skill of the Americans has brought us over to their side.  The Germans at last, impelled by terrors largely of their own creation, challenged the whole world, and fell; it is very much to be feared that Japan may do likewise.  The pros and cons are so familiar in the case of Germany that I need not elaborate them further, since the whole argument can be transferred bodily to the case of Japan.  There is, however, this difference, that, while Germany aimed at hegemony of the whole world, the Japanese only aim at hegemony in Eastern Asia.

The conflict between America and Japan is superficially economic, but, as often happens, the economic rivalry is really a cloak for deeper passions.  Japan still believes in the divine right of kings; America believes in the divine right of commerce.  I have sometimes tried to persuade Americans that there may be nations which will not gain by an extension of their foreign commerce, but I have always found the attempt futile.  The Americans believe also that their religion and morality and culture are far superior to those of the Far East.  I regard this as a delusion, though one shared by almost all Europeans.  The Japanese, profoundly and with all the strength of their being, long to preserve their own culture and to avoid becoming like Europeans or Americans; and in this I think we ought to sympathize with them.  The colour prejudice is even more intense among Americans than among Europeans; the Japanese are determined to prove that the yellow man may be the equal of the white man.  In this, also, justice and humanity are on the side of Japan.  Thus on the deeper issues, which underlie the economic and diplomatic conflict, my feelings go with the Japanese rather than with the Americans.

Unfortunately, the Japanese are always putting themselves in the wrong through impatience and contempt.  They ought to have claimed for China the same consideration that they have extorted towards themselves; then they could have become, what they constantly profess to be, the champions of Asia against Europe.  The Chinese are prone to gratitude, and would have helped Japan loyally if Japan had been a true friend to them.  But the Japanese despise the Chinese more than the Europeans do; they do not want to destroy the belief in Eastern inferiority, but only to be regarded as