Sir - I would like to support the suggestion that we should now make an effort to come to an understanding with Japan. But any such attempt must be founded upon recognition of the vital economic necessities of modern Japan. That nation has to maintain a population of 70,000,000 on a small, mountainous country of about 150,000 square miles - a greater density per square mile than that of Germany or Italy and only rivalled by Belgium, Holland and Great Britain.
Three factors make the pressure of population and the maintenance of existing standards of life far more difficult than in the case of these European countries.
First, the Japanese islands are largely mountainous and only one-fifth of the land is usable for agricultural purposes.
Secondly, the population is increasing at the rate of over 1,000,000 a year, and restrictions on Japanese immigrants in various continents has increased this pressure of population.
Thirdly, Japan's resources in coal and iron are very poor. (This deficiency hinders her competing in the heavy steel export industry.)
This grave economic position must force Japan into obtaining under-populated lands suitable for settlement by her people, or into obtaining a steadily expanding export trade, or into seeing the standard of life of her people decline to almost famine levels. I can conceive of no other alternative before her but one of these three.
It should be a matter of policy as well as of justice for us to aid her to secure her ends by the second method - helping her to obtain a steady and expanding market for her exports. We should endeavour to mediate between the Japanese and Chinese Governments with a view to a peaceful settlement of the present war on the basis of a recognition of Chinese territorial integrity and independence (excepting Manchukuo and Mongolias), combined with a recognition of the special economic position of Japan in relation to China; in particular to the northern Chinese provinces.
Further, I would suggest that in the British Empire increased trading facilities should be given to the Japanese.
