Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-21
IS AMERICAS FRIEND
G. A. Griscom Back From
Japan.
NO ANIMUS SHOWN
IN RECENT DEMONSTRATIONS
AGAINST TREATY.
Just Back From the Mikado's Country
In Good Health and
Spirits.

dispatch from Philadelphia says: Clement
A. Griscom returned yesterday from a
lengthy tour of Japan. whittier he and his
wife went to visit their son. Lloyd Carpen-
ter Griscom. who is United States minister
to the island empire.
Mr.. and Mrs. Griscom were in Japan
when peace was declared, and by reason
of their close connection with the official
dom of Toxic they were enabled to get an
inner glimpse of matters that remain hid
den to ordinary eyes.
Mr.. Griscom is in the best of health and
spirits, and he is brimful of interesting and
timely opinions on Japan and her people
He spoke entertainingly of his trip and OBJ
servations yesterday afternoon when seen
at his home, Dolobran. Haverford.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gr:scom left Philadelphia
on May Is and arrived at Yokohama on
June u. They visited all the cities of in
terest on the islands, made a trip 10 Manila
and left for home on September ;.
The peace treaty was agreed to on Tues
day, August -, so Mr., Griscom was present
during the excitement which attended the
announcement of this news.
Masses Expected Indemnity.
Before sailing for America" he said,
several merchants and bankers whom l
knew expressed the opinion lDdt the terms
| of peace as then outlined and understood
would not be satisfactory to the mass of
the people, as they had been led by the
! Japanese press to expect much more, and
especially large war indemnity.
| "These men said that it would not sur
prise them If there would be some demon
| stration against the government If the
| treaty were ratified. Japan knew of the
| ratification as soon as Ii was accomplished,
but the precise terms of the treaty were
not officially promulgated before L salleo,
| to the fact that twas not until Monday,
| September 4, that the American newspapers
had any news of the reception OF the peace
terms in Japan, he said il was the first that
| he had heard that such had been the case
| The official explanation given at the time
| was that a storm had broken off cable con-
nections.
com took place in June, when the Japa-
nese were merely discussing such details as
to whom they should send to America as
commissioners, so / do not know what oc-
Cured there during the actual peace nego-
| tiations.
Achieved What She Fought For.
81 am not one of those who believe that
Janan has yielded too much in the treaty
| made with Russia. She has achieved as
| far as I know. all those points for which
she strove Unfortunately, however, the
Japanese papers had persistently led the
| people to expect large indemnity and
| the whole of Sakhalin Island. Hence the
| discomfort which was evidenced in mass
meetings, riots and insults to Japanese
statesmen. -.-,--.
n do not believe there was any anti
American or anti-Christian feeling back
of these demonstrations. Churches We're
burnt 1t is true, but that was merely an
| incident. and was caused by turbulent
| lot Of people. 1t perhaps might not have
| occurred if the police had handled these
| crowds more considerably.
ut was merely a coincidence that the
| Harrimans happened to be dining with
| Japanese official the evening of one of
| these disturbances.
and spontaneous showing of friendship
| toward Americans than was seen in To-
kio when Gen. Taft, Miss Roosevelt and
| the other members of his distinguished
party visited that city.
| "rhere seems to have existed an i'm
| preston in this country that these riots
| were anti-American. They We're not. They
| were directed against the Japanese gov
| eminent only.
"The people themselves are more than
| enthusiastic about Americans and are de-
| lighted with President Roosevelt. He is
looked upon in Japan as universal bene-
factor, and believe this feeling is shared
by the whole civilized world"
A Cheerful People
l.. In speaking of the Japanese people as
he saw them casually, Mr.. Griscom said:
| What impressed me most after a few
| days in Japan was the cheerfulness of
| the people. There was absolutely no evil
dence that a war was in progress. Every
one seemed perfectly happy. and there
was no sign of discomfort, either social
| or pecuniary. There were no visible signs
| of poverty, and a beggar on the streets
was the rarest of sights.
| Il met many prominent Japanese officials
| and most of the cabinet during my stay
TheV most entertaining and intelli-
gent men, usually speaking either English
| or French. The Marquis Ito l met sew
eral times. He is the Oldest of the five
'genro,' or senior statesmen, and he is a
most charming man.
Received by the Emperor.
IT also had the honor of obtaining an
audience with the emperor and empress.
Mrs. Griscom had the distinction of being
received in special audience by the en-
press.
His majesty impressed me as a thought
full, studious man, fully realizing the re-
sponsibility of his position as ruler of
great people. The empress has charm
ing personality and was exceedingly graci-
ous."
Japan's Future.
OF much interest was what Mr.. Griscom
had to say of Japans future commercial
prospects and relations. He said:
1.-THE natural result of the war will be
the domination by Japan OF the commerce
of the far east, and the United States.
Great Britain and Germany will have to
bestir themselves to keep pace with
active and intelligent people with the great
advantage of propinquity and similarity of
language to the Chinese.
"It occurred to me while in the Philip
pines that the mission of Manila as a
United States possession was TO become a
warehouse for American manufactures
from which our goods could be. quickly and
cheaply distributed to Chinese and Japa-
nese markets.
Japan Is at present very prosperous, and
her finances in excellent condition. To be
sure she has borrowed large sums OF
money for the war, but l feel confident
these loans will not prove a heavy burden
on the people.
IT don't see how the war can affect our
commercial relations with Russia. There
has always existed a deep feeling OF graft
| tude In the country toward Russia Tor
her attitude during our civil war, and l