Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13
PEACE OF THE .0R|ENT
Armed Russia is a Menace
to 1t. +.
THE VIEW IN JAPAN
A TALK WITH SoICHIRO ASANO
IN TOKYO.
What May Be Asked Of Other Nations
if Russia is DEMONSTRATIONS
With the United States
VIEW IN JAPAN


Asano, president of the Japanese Steamship
Company, owning the three vessels, Hong
kong Maru, American Maru and Nippon
Maru. recently acquired by the Japanese
war office but previously a part of the
Pacific mail system plying between San
Francisco Hawaii, Japan and China, Is
the real basis of the war spirit in Japan.
And this significant action on the part of
the war office recalls interesting after
neon spent at the palatial residence of Mr..
Asano at Shinagawa, one of the suburbs
of Tokyo.
1 first met Mr.. Asano In his Office in
Tokyo in company with his son-in-law. Mr..
Shirashi, where discussed the com
nercial relations between the United States
and Japan, so far as they applied to the
carrying trade Of the Pacific. This meeting
with Mr.. Asano resulted in the establish
ment of such friendly relations that he in
vited me to call again upon my return TO
Japan. from the Philippine Islands, where
I proposed to be gone some two or three
months hence my visit to his house last
October.
Strained Relations With Russia.
The subject uppermost at that time in
the Japanese mind was the pending strain
ed relations with Russia. and in the course
of our conversation the position occupied
by the younger element and more progress
sive spirit in the Japanese national life was
very strongly championed by both Mr..
Asano and Mr.. Shirashi. While seated at
many course home dinner these two gen.
tlemen put aside the natural oriental re-
serve and talked very freely and forcibly
upon the subject that lay nearest the Jap
anese heart, the defense against Russian
aggression. To fully understand and APP
preciate the Japanese. it must be borne In
mind that they are always loath to say
anything that will in any way hurt the
LII, fx,a,,
reason it is difficult to learn their real
thoughts. 1t is owing to this fact that
Americans. in particular. find it difficult
in dealing with the Japanese, the Japanese
concealing from them their wants, from a
national standpoint, fearing that they may
say something that may be considered i'm
polite or that will hurt the Americans
feelings. On this occasion. America was
but slightly mentioned, and when she was
the relations between the two countries
were frankly stated. 1 asked Mr.. Asano
what the position of the so-called younger
element of Japan was toward Russia, and
why such hostility was shown, and his
answer WAS the above striking statement
that armed Russia 1menaced the peace Of
the orient. just as the first Napoleon was
continual menace to the peace Of all
Europe. 1850 a
But can Japan alone cope with Russia, I
asked? With a smile, he answered: That
remains to be seen. For myself, advocate
war with Russia; not war over Manchuria
or over Korea, but war for the disarm;ng
OF Russia. Japan is not as poor as peo-
pie imagine. She has not been taxed to
her full capacity, and if Japan We're sure
that she could destroy the fleets and arma-
ment of Russia, even by the sacrifice of
her own fieeCs and army. it would be
cheaper for her to do SO than to continue
the ever-increasing investment in the bat
lie SHIPS, foruhcauonS and armamnet nee
essary to keep pace with the increasing ar
mics and navies of Russia We would be
willing to lose practically all of our navy
If we could succeed in DESTROYING the navy
and Notifications of Russia
What May Be Asked of Other Nations
I asked him then about the friendship
existing between England and Japan and
what Japan might ask of England in case
or war. His reply that they asked
nothing of England nor the United States. |
nor any other country during the prosecu-
ton of war. if war must come. but If Japan
was successful, and disarmed Russia in the |
orient hoped that England and the United |
states would join with her in refusing to
alloW Russia to again maintain her forti- |
hcauons and navieS on the borders of
emma. why, said he. even France and Ger |
many should be willing to join in prevent |
ing Russia from again disturbing the peace
OF the orient. because as time goes by I'M |
less checked. Russias armies and navy on |
the borders of China will be so great that
it will be impossible for the combined in |
nuence OF all the European countries, the |
Chiteu states ana Japan to prevent her |
from taking possession of China
l then asked him why Janan was 81 n,ucb
interested in Russia's occupation of ANN |
churla. lie said that they had no feeling |
except that In taking Manchuria Russia |
would take Korea, and by using Korea as |
a base of supplies Japan would lie prac-
tlcally at the mercy of Russia because |
Korea in the hands of an enemy would |
pracucaily separate the island empire into
two parts Japan, he said, is fighting for |
her life, and if she strikes at all She should |
strike now. 1t is evident that the opinion |
or the younger mobiles or younger element |
mas nau great weight with the government |
because Mr.. Asano assured me that the |
shlps or his company would not be taken nv |
the japanese war office unless war was |
unavoidable 1t is also evident that Japan |
nus s nave some assurance from England |
and perhaps some of the other continental |
powers, that if she succeeds in breaking |
Russlas power in Korea and Manchuria |
they VIII join with her in preventing Rus
sia from again building I'D her military
establishments in those countries.
Commercial Relations With the TT
for an hour or more these gentlemen |!
uiscusseo the dangers Of the oriental sit |
uaton until coffee and cigarettes were |
served, which turned US from the subject |
OF war to that of peace and we touched |
upon the commercial relations between the |
United States and Japan Here an ami
mated little converse ton took place in |
Japanese between Mr.. Asano and Mr. !
shirashi which Mr. Shirashi laughingly ex-
pialned to me by saying that he intended |
10 tell me, much against=Mr Asano's wish |
es, some of the causeszwhich might lead |
TO friction between the United States and |
Japan He first called attention to the |
action of the United States which con- |
fined the trade of the -Philippine Islands |
between the Philippine, Hawaii and the |
main land of the United States to Ameri- |
can vessels; He said this was resented |
by all the japanese merchants as we'll as
the shipping interests in Japan for the |
reason that under the treaty which ex- !
pires in 1908, the United States vessels |
have the right to trade between the treaty |
ports OF Yokohama, Kobi and Nagasaki |
he called my attention to the fact that in |
the international commercial congress held |
in Philadelphia in 1899 the Japanese dsle-
gates protested against this action on the |
part OF the United States. Now should |
the United States refuse to allow the jap
anese to participate in this trade when
1908 comes Japan will undoubtedly refuse |
to allow American vessels to participate |
in the Japanese coastwise trade. This
would place the American ships at dis |
advantage and naturally the silk and tea |
trade between the United States and Japan |
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