The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-10
BEST OF FRIENDS.
Russia and Japan Have No Desire to
Fight Each Other.

New York, July 10.-R. Kondo, presi-
dent of the Japan Mail Steamship com
pany, says in an interview in the Jour-
nal of Commerce that there has been a
great deal of exaggeratiOn concerning
Russia's and Japan's attitudes both in
China and Corea. The Masampo Incl
dent, concerning which so much has
been said, is an instance in point. All
that there was in that affair was that
the Russians desired to obtain GER
tain piece of land in Masampo whereon
to provide shore facilities for a steam
ship line to be run in connection with
the Eastern Chinese railway. The jap
anese owner of that much talked of
piece of land was no other than the
Japan Mail Steamship company, of
which Mr. Kondo is president, which
desires to use 1t fol- precisely the same
purposes as the Russian company. The
incident has absolutely no political sig
nificance whatever. Nothing could be
farther from Japan's desire, Mr.. Kondo
lieves that the same may be said of
Russia's feeling toward Japan
The first question which attracted
Mr.. Kondo'S attention. on his arrival in
San Francisco was the agitation
against Japanese immigration. Natur
ally he took great interest in the mat
ter, and investigated the condition of
affairs which had given rise to the agi-
tation. He found some of the Japanese
in a deplorable condition. Many of
them had evidently come to this coun-
try under the impression that money
is to be earned without much effort,
leaving their homes, where living is
much cheaper by comparison and where
they could lead simple, happy lives,
without any definite idea of what they
were to do on arriving, but with a hazy
impression that they would improve
their condition, just as many Ameri-
cans go to Cape Nome or the Klondike.
The disappointment in many cases is
bitter, and the hardships which such ex-
perienceS entail will doubtless have a
deterrent effect upon japanese immi-
grafton. The Japanese government has
no desire. Mr.. Kondo states. to have
| such immigration continue, as was
shown in the recent restrictive meas
ureS adopted in Japan. On the other
hand, Mr.. Kondo found many employ
ers of japanese 1aborers who pro-
nounced them obedient, honest and
hard working. That such labor would
be of benefit to this country in districts
where labor of all kinds is scarce and
where the natural resources richly re-
pay all toll expended upon them, he
does not entertain the least doubt Nor
can he conceive of anything like gen
eral opposition in such country as the
United States to the free and voluntary
coming of useful laborers because they
belong to a different race least of all
when it is remembered that their num-
Der can never be very great. Mr.. Kon-
do does not believe that the United
States would ever take any restrictive
| action against japanese immigration
which could be construed as an affront
| to Japan's prestige; but if that should
| ever be done he thinks it no more than
| probable that Japan would adopt re-
| taliatory measures. That result, he
| thinks, would be a matter of deep re-
| greet in the case of two nations whose
| friendship has always been so cordial
! and to both of whom even closer ties
in the future would be of so much adj
vantage.