The Washington times., 1906-03-11
JAPAN OFFICIALLY
BLAMES AMERICANS
What OnreSt Is i'm China Is
Due to Our Laws.
STATEMENTS OF EMBASSIES
General Defense of Attitude of Chinese
Toward Foreigners Issued Through
Japanses Diplomatic Service.
STATEMENTS OF EMBASSIES

LONDON, March I0.-The recent re-
assuring statement about the situation
in China by Viscount Hayashi, the jap
anese ambassador to Great Britain.
which was reported in the dispatches.
has been followed by an unsigned state
ment issued by the japanese embassy
here. While it is remarked that no sec
onding voice has been heard from Chi
nese diplomats in London. it is presumed
that the Japanese haYe been authorized
TO act as spokesmen.
In this connection il is recalled that
some weeks ago. the report was circu-
lated that the relations between China
and Japan had been cemented by a Sc
cret understanding and this supposltion
is now reviewed in view of more recent
developments. 1t is apparent to all that
since the war, japanese statesmen have
ceased to speak in deprecating terms OF
their Chinese colleagues, while prior to
the Manchurtan struggle the Mikado's
diplomats We're ever ready TO imply
their admission of the existence OF vari-
Gus yellow perils, SO far as China was
concerned.
Deny Joint Action.
The statement referred TO denies that
England, Japan and America were con-
lion to secure the lives and property of
foreigners in China. 1t is maintained
very strongly that the anti-foreign
spirit in China has always been greatly
exaggerated in the West Risings to
expeI the foreigner have invariably been
brought about by specific acts of ag-
gressiou on the part of Western powers.
The nature Of the Chinese is prone to
commercial intercourse with the outside
world. and the Chinese as a race have
never possessed the exclusive ideas
which were prevalent IN Japan fifty
years ago. AS there has been no for
eigu aggression in the last year or two
TO arouse a feeling of antagonism in
China, there is no reason to attach inn
poTtance TO sporadic outbreaks
DowageT Omnipotent Again.
To begin with. the anti-dynastIc feel
ing always latent in China, was never
less formidable than at the present
moment. The Manchu dynasty, which
seemed To be doomed in 1901, has been
established by The Empress Dowag-
er more firmly than ever, and there is
no evidence of any widely organized
dissatisfaction. BY her moderation,
and her readiness to accept modern re-
her dynasty a new lease Of life.
In the second place. there is not the
slightest reason to apprehend an anti
foreign rising like the Boxer movement
of 1900. No one who has any knowl-
edge of China is unaware Of the fact
that foreign aggression was directly
responsible for that movement and es-
pecially Of kiaO-tung, In Shan-tung
where the Boxers first practiced their
drill Now there is no question of any
foreign aggression. Moreover, the out
breaks already reported in the press
were directed against missions in wide
ly-sepaTated districts. Such outbreaks
are surely no indication OF any anti
dynastic, or even Of an anti-foreign
movement.
Missionaries Make Mistakes.
Missionaries are almost certain from
time TO time to come in conflict with
national prejudices or with national
beliefs. Want Of experience some
times leads them to attack the uni
versaI habit of ancestor-worship, which
is misleading term for the practice
of hOnOring ones ancestors. When mis-
takes Of that sort are made, breaches
of the peace are sure to occur, but
acter. After all, the medical and edu-
cationaI work done by the missionaries
IN China win them great respect
But it IS impossible, in the opinion Of
this authority, to overlook the real
strength of the anti-American feeling
which is growing up. owing TO the anti
Chinese legislation in America. That
is a very different thing from the anger
engendered by the seizure Of Kiao-
chau. but it is, nevertheless, a force 20
be Teckoned with The growing irrita-
tion would be largely allayed by the
smallest concession on the part of the
American Government. The great thing
is TO act quickly, and to give the i'm
preston that the authorities at Wash
ingtOn really desire to show a conciI-
iatory spirit. No time should be lost,
for concession that would work Won
ders today might have no effect at all
a year or two hence.
From Berlin Embassy, Too.
News received here from Berlin is
highly interesting in this connection. If
somewhat contradictory. a leading
mtmber Of the japanese embassy there
has given to the press a statement of
Japanese opinion on the outbreak OF
anti-foregin feeling in Southern China.
Disturbances, which are regarded as
having, for the present at least, only a
local significance, are, he stated, the
result Of the action taken by the Chi
nese guilds as a Tetort to the rigorous
regulations of the United States Chi
n6se immigration law
Nowhere in the world are merchants
guilds and associations so well organized
and Influential as in China, and had
they leaders capable of making some
sacrifice in a patriotic cause they would
certainly become a serious danger to
European ambitions. He believed that
the anti-fOTeign movement in the Yang
tse-kiang provinces, and in the south
generally might also be ascribed partly
TO the policy of the Chinese government
in frustrating any reform or reOrgani-
zation of the Chinese army, either by
japanese or by Europeans.
Yellow Peril Nightmare.
The stern discipline to which the Jap
snese owed their successes in the field
was not attractive to the mandarins
and moreover, in other than military
respects, japanese influence encountered
more obstcales in China than did that
of Europeans.
Not only was there no cooperation
between China and Japan, but antagon-
ism between the views of the two peo-
pies was very frequently manifested.
Chinese and japanese differed from