The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-02
Officials OF the State Depart
ment Were Somewhat AS
tonished Over the Dispatch
from San Francisco.
SAYS LITTLE BROWN
MEN WOULD FIGHT
Point at Issue is the Segrega-
tion of Japanese School
Children-WouId Strike the
Philippines First.
IPuhlishers. Press.l

WashingseA. l,cc. l. - Ofiicials OF
the state department were somewhat
astonished to read in the newspapers
a dispatch frcm San Francisco stating
consul general at Yokohama. said in
an interview that the Japanese are
highly incensed over the segregation
of Japanese school children. and. to
save the national dignity. are willing
to go to war If Miller was correctly
quoted and the language used actually
reflects his sober judgment. the situ-
alton would appear to be assuming a
seriousness not realized before in
Washington.
1t goes without saying that Japans
first objective In case of war would
be the Philippines, and. although
some American statesmen always
questioned the wisdom of acquiring
the archipelago and holding it indefin-
itely as dependency of this govern
ment, none of them would like to see
us lose it as the result of inability to
protect it from an enemy
In this connection certain portions ;
of the annual report of Rear Admiral
Converse, chief of the bureau OF navi-
CATION. are extremely pertinent. Ad-
miral Converse makes the significant
observation: The conduct of q seri-
Gus war will require, unless we are to
suffer defeat in its early stages. an
efficient administration Of the military
features Of the navy department. The
bureau believes that all will agree
that we should not wait for the disas-
ter Of actual war to provide that. but
rather should make adequate provi-
sion beforehand"
Diplomats and officials here can
scarcely conceal that the situation
may become intensely interesting at
any time, possibly in the near future.
In the meantime every step is being
and make ready for the remote con-
tingency Of a clash of arms with the
Japanese. 1t is well understood here
that Japan is in the background as
the power with which the United
States has to reckon on the Philip
pine Islands.
President Roosevelt concurs in the
opinion Of Secretary Metcalf that the
Japanese have no cause for grievance
and that no treaty right has been alb
rogated The president is convinced
that in giving the Japanese students
equal educational rights. while sep
arating them from other scholars, as
has been done, is necessary.
Outside of racial differences there
is another reason for segregation. and
that Is, many of the Japanese students
are adults. The president will stand
strictly upon treaty agreements, but
he thinks too much is being asked by
the Japanese government. II is
known that the president feels that
the Japanese are trying to impose
upon the people of San Francisco and
the coast. He is reported to have
said emphatically to one caller:
Whatever Is fair shall be done. No
treaty will be evaded or ignored
Henry B. Miller. United States con-
sui general at Yokohama, will be Civ
en- an opportunity by the state depart
ment to affirm or deny a published in
Lerview in which he is quoted as say
ing that the Japanese are organized
10 fight the United States A clipping
of the alleged interview was forward
I'd to Miller, and the statement is
made that II he denies it his answer
nent as conclusive