The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-04

executive utterance ON the subject.
WASHINGTON, Dec S.-Nothing
which has been said in the whole range
of comment on the possibility of war
between the United States and Japan
has surprised certain Washington Off
cials so much as the seeming unanimity
of opinion in the country that we are
utterly unprepared for fight with the
orientals.
There is a prayerful hope that 10 war
viii come. but If it should come the
strong probabilities are that the pessi-
Nists, and they seem to abound in
every section of the land. will find that
they have looked upon the prospect
through blue glasses.
This nation is not entirely unpre-
pared for hostilities with Japan or any
other country There is only one ma
tion that can crush our sea fleets, and
i ssaiiors of that nation would know
tfs they had been in a fight before
,1sour vessels went down with it's
ceeaus.
q FEAR FOR PHILIPPINES
ddhrongressmen have come to Washing
sa from every district and all of them
seem burdened with the belief that if
trouble comes with Japan over the
California school question. which is a
minor matter, or over the enactment
of japanese exclusion law, which is
a major matter. the Philippines will
be lost to US, temporarily at least,
within a month
The press of the United States
sounds the same dismal note. The
Japanese would overrun the Philip
pines, drive our forces helter-skelter
into the rice fields until, after months
and possibly years. we have rebuilt
doubly rebuilt-the fleets which Togo
or some other Oriental admiral has
given to Davy Jones.
Officers of the United States army
and navy whose duties lie along cer-
tain lines of preparation are not idle
in time of peace. If Japan declared war
tomorrow the chiefs of the twin Ameri-
can services would know how to meet
her armies and her feet, with more
than an even chance that the apparent
ly expected Oriental successes would
prove to be reverses.
SETTLEMENT Is ASSURED
A satisfactory adjustment of the
trouble between the United States and
Japan growing out of the action of the
authorities of San Francisco in exclud-
ing Japanese children from the white
schools of that city will be brought
about, according to the views of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. the members of his
Cabinet and many members of the SEN
ate and House. Few officials in Wash
ington now believe that there will be
an armed conflict over this question or
that commercial warfare will be the
outcome of the trouble
Secretary Root received today from
Henry B. Miller, the American Consul
General at Yokohama,> Japan, denial
of the interview in which he was
quoted as saying that war is inevitable
between Japan and the United States.
oWihS W ehc oShooi queSeioH. II HdS
been communicated to Japan and has
tended to promote a better feeling be-
tween the two countries.
President Roosevelt had a number of
conferences today with Senators and
Representatives. Half of them ex-
pressed the belief that the trouble
would be settled amicably. The Japan
csc Government understands that it is
Impossible. under our plan of governs
ment, to force California to carry out
the terms of the treaty between Japan
and the United States. 1t is believed
that the President will in a few days
make reply to the representations Of
Continued ON PAGE Column