Middletown transcript., 1906-11-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
Oct d 1o0a

There haee been number Of confe
ences beween The State Department an
the White House over she Japanese stir
aiinr. The subject was discussed at I'll
last Cabinet meetiugthis week. In vie,
"f The sppeai that l,as been made TO tll
| President i.t tee Jetanese Ambassado
Aoki, rbtre is no concealing the fac
that the situation is one requiring th,
most delicate diplomatic handling Il
avoid an open rupture. The Chief eaus,
.ef complaint from the Japanele sdie il
the exclusion of japanese children from
! The San Francisco public schools. The
| Japanese are an Exceedingly child-loving
race and as small as the proyication may
sem, the aclion OF the San Francisco au.
+, thoriiies is graver offense In their eyes
than almost anything else that could be
dore. 1t happens too that, owing to
weal foreigners consider the remarkable
situation in the Unitsd States, the action
oil the San Francisco authorities is en-
tirrly beyond the reach of either the
ffesileEt or the Federal Government as
d whole. Forfignors nardiy understand
our system whereby certain state rights
c,nnot even be touched by the Exec
utive. Aud the result is that while the
President is anxious to do everything in
his power to prevent friction with the
Japanese Government, small matter
like the action OF local school authorities
in San Francisco is entirely beyond his
reach.
The question that appeals most
strongly to this Government is the effect
that antagonism with Japan will have
on the whole of our Oriental trade. OF
course in a difficulty Of this sort the
Pacific coast would be the first to suffer,
but any interference with Far Eastern
trade would effect the whole country as
well. The situation just now in Man
churia, which is very important section
for us commercially is rather peculiar.
The japanese government holds the key
for the entry OF all American produce in
to Manchurian markets aud this OF
course applies equally well to Korea.
An open rupture with Japan would also
effect our rapidly increasing trade in
China, SO it is only natural that this
government is anxious to avoid any
strained relations with Japan, even
though the question OF actual war is con-
sidered to remote to discuss just now.
Coming in connection with tile Japan
ese trouble, it is OF some interest that In
speetor Simms is about to make report
to the Department of Commerce and
Labor, covering the whole of the Alaskan
seal question and incidentally the fight
in which number of Japanese seal
poachers were recently killed on st. Paul
Island. This report will set forth the
actual provocation which the coast
guards had for killing the Japanese, and
it is possible that it-may open some line
whereby the Administration will be able
to make friendly demonstrations which
the Japanese government will appreciate
at this time
-
The report that Assistant Secretary
Bacon, of the State Department, is slated
to succeed Ambassador Mccormick in
Paris is interesting as rumor, but at
this time csn be given for nothing more.
1t is known that Ambassador McCor-
mick chief interest in entering dipio-
matte life was to humor the social views
Of his wife, who is quite willing to pay
the price involved for the sake of holding
court of her own abroad. It is not
often that American Ambassadors are
Wiling to exile themselves for any
length Of time from the comforts of home,
and after Ambassador McCormick's ex-
perience in St. Petersburg and the COM
paratively short term that lie has had in
Paris. it is probable that he is quite will
ing to return to the United States and
take up life again in the only country
where the average American thinks life
is worth Iivirg. If Mr.. Bacon should
succeed him in Paris, it would mark a
very rapid rise for an exceedingly young
man in the service Of the government.
Mr.. Bacon is rich and could well afford
the luxury of diplomatic life abroad,
and he has shown by his service at
Havana that he is quite capable of cop.
ing with delicate diplomatic questions.
It is is quite possible when Ambassador
Mccormick does return home that Mr..
Bacon will be allowed to succeed him
should lie SO wish.
~
The old runor of Postmaster General
Corteiyou'i resignation as Chairman Of
the National Republican Committe has
again been revived, this time on the plea
that it would be improper for him to re.
tain such position after he goes into the
Treasury Department. It is quite possi-