The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02
PLAN TO APPEASE JAPANESE.
PRESIDENTS PROPOSITION TO
SETTLE SCHOOL QUESTION.


FEAhChNCu willy J&WNucbc WIN " WNu'
rs Years OF Ase-Ths Administers tien
Anxious TO End the Agitation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I'm the opinion OF
the Administration the talk OF war wit b
Japan over the exclusion Of Japanese stu
dents from the schools In San Francisco
is the veriest nonsense and would be un-
worthy OF notice were It not for the realisa-
ton that continued agitation OF the subject
by political orators and newspapers may
serve to accentuate the iu-feeling that does
exist until both parties to the controversy
will forget the real causes Of difference in
the increased bitterness that much discus
sion Is sure TO bring.
IT situation from the standpoint Of SEN
timent and trade relations is serious enough
as it is without seeking to force to swords
points two nations whose friendship has
become more han a mere tradition. But
indiscreet persons. whose official prominence
Is likely to be exaggerated by the sensitive
Japanese, are blowing OF the smouldering
flame, some of them merely because they
like to blow and others for their own selfish
purposes, and as all these half baked ut
franc are being cabled to Japan for
publication in the newspapers of that coun-
try, it is apparent to thoughtful men here
that trouble may result without a. definite
cause.
Two California Congressman. Hayes Of
San jose and Knowland Of Oakland, both
Rep ublicans, called at the White Hous
to-day and talked with President Roosevelt
over the Japanese agitation. Afterward
Mr.. Hayes said that President Roose welt
has a plan for settling the Japanese school
question which he hopes will avert the
present critical state OF feeling toward
this country in japan. The Presidents
plan is, Mr.. Hayes said, that the exclusion
Of Japanese pupils from white schools
in San Francisco shah apply only to those
who are more than 10 years OF age and
that Japanese less than that age shall be
permitted to attend the white schools
freely. Representations have been made
to the President that such a segregation
would meet the most serious OF the local
objections to mixed schools in California.
After he left the White House Repre-
sentative HAYES made a statement that,
while apparently intended to placate public
feeling in Japan, is on a par with most
Of the ak that is serving to inflame the
Japanese spirit.
"Oh.' he said, there will be no war over
the school question. But I have no doubt
hat We shall be at war with Japan some
time during the mex twenty-five years.
Japan wants to dominate the Pacific and
we have some idea of doing that ourselves.
When flint meets steel there IL fire."
President welt gave Mr.. Hayes
the tip that fhere would be no war with
Japan over the school question. and he also
made IL plain to Mr.. Hayes that IL would
be unpatriotic as well as indiscreet to
introduce a resolution which Mr.. Hayes
had in mind, calling for a new treaty with
Japan that would permit the school authori-
ties Of any State or city to exclude Japanese
students.
The President il determined to do his
utmost to stop the present anti-Japanese
agitation. At the proper time, and that
will not be long postponed, he will make
known his views in such a way as to cave
no doubt of the fact that the Washington
Government has no sympathy whatever
with the measured that have been directed
toward the Japanese by agitators on the
Pacific Coast. There ia q confident feeling
in Administration circles that after the
President has spoken the Japanese Govern
ment and the Japanese people will have no
doubt in their minds of the complete friend
illness toward them IN h part of every
body in this country except a compare
lively few American citizens. and that the
President and his advisers, backed by MEN,
bers OF both parties in Congress, will do
their utmost to remove all causes Of friction
that now give cause for concern.
Secretary Root has already lone much
toward removing the i'll feeling that exists
in japan by making plain to the Japanese
Ambassador that the sentiment which con-
trolls the San Francisco authorities is not a
reflection OF the feelings of the entire body
of the people Of American toward her friend
in the Far East, and that the affair is purely
local and not in any sense national. If
the Japanese Government does not now
understand the true situation the Admins
tration will be greatly surprised.
At this time the only serious feature OF
the controversy, il il can properly be called
that. is the effect il may have upon the
trade relations bet ween the United States
and the Orient. and il is for that reason
rather than through any fea OF war that
Government officials are chiefly concerned.
The State Department has taken one step
in the direction Of stopping indiscreet talk
by ca ling on H. B. Miller. United States
Consul at Yokohama, for an explanation
Of the statement that in an interview at
San Francisco he said:
The Japanese are highly inoensed over
the segregation of Japanese schoolchildren
and to ave the national dignity are willing
to go to war"
Mr.. Miller has been asked by the Depart
ment II he was correctly quoted. While
Mr.. Miller is regarded as one Of the best
OfiCaIra If the consular aaruioa ha will 0at
short shrift IL it is established that he made
the indiscreet utterances attributed to
him.