Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-18
JAPAN AMONG THE NATIONS.

The new treaty relations which Japan
has just entered into with the United
States and most Of the European pow
ers give that country a standing among
the nations which it has not hitherto
lad. Al stated by the Japanese min
lister TO this country, the going into
effect of the new treaties marks a turn
ing point in the diplomatic history not
only of Japan. but of the oriental coun-
tries in general. 1t is a recognition of
equality, in respect to international re-
l%ations, of the japanese empire, which
cannot fail to have important results
for that country, politically and other
wise.
That in connection with this change
Japan should feel particularly friendly
TO the United States is quite natural in
view of the interest which this country
has always taken in the oriental en-
pirc. More than forty-tive years ago
an American squadron under command
of Commodore Perry anchored in the
bay of Yedo and five years later n
treaty was concluded which became the
basis yf Japan's conventional relations
with western nations. When Perry
planned his expedition Japan had been
closed to the world for more than two
centuries. Restricted commercial re-
lations were tolerated with n Euro
pean nation, but on terms most rigorous
and humiliating. The empire was
seemingly impervious to advances from
without. Commodore Perry perceived,
as did few of his contemporaries, that
Japan's condition was the result of eX-
traordinary and not of natural causes.
He saw in the civilization then existing
and in the development of the arts, in
dustries and agriculture, promise of
progress under more favorable circum-
stances. 1t was fortunate for Japan,
says Il writer on the relation of Japan
to other nations, that such a man should
have undertaken the task of bringing
her into touch with the western world.
The treaty subsequently negotiated
with Japan has been characterized as Il
model of moderation and set an example
which the envoys of other countries had
perforce to initiate. Thus it was that
the United States was instrumental in
bringing Japan to the attention and
serious consideration of the western ma
ions and the effect was to arouse in
the empire impulses and aspirations
hitherto undisclosed. Ever since then
the relations between the United States
and Japan have beer uniformly friendly
and the treaty which went into effect
yesterday is added assurance Of the
maintenance of these relations. The
Japanese minister at Washington has
expressed the hope and belief that the
United States government and people,
having taken such a friendly interest
under the old system, will take a most
friendly interest in the carrying out of
the new treaty. There can be no doubt
as to this. The United States has as
great concern as perhaps any other
country in the growth of Japan and.
never was it more important thar now
that we should be on friendly terms
with that progressive oriental power.
The industrial M commercial devef-
opment of Japan has already been Of
great benefit to the trade of this u
try and there is good reason to expect
greater benefit in the future. hen the
new position this country has assumed
in the far east renders more valuable
and important than ever before the
friendship Of Japan.