Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-25
BY WAY OF WARNING
w. D. F0uIke Discusses the Irri-
tation in Japan.
FRIENDSHIP WORTH SAVING
Too Valuable to Be Dissipated by a
Trifle.
OUR VULNERABLE POSSESSIONS
Their Possible Fate in Case of Hostili-
ties With the Yangees Of
the Orient.
OUR VULNERABLE POSSESSIONS

Mr.. w. D. Foulke, formerly a member
of the civil service commission has re-
turned here after an absence of some
months. having spent considerable time
abroad. Mr.. Foulke has given spe ,lll at
tention to the relations of the United
States to the far east and has viewed
with regret the irritation that has been
shown in Japan over the exclusion of
Japanese children from the public schools
In San Francisco. Speaking of these de-
velopments today, Mr.. Fou1ke said:
An Incomprehensible Course.
THE fatuous course of the newspapers
and agitators who are trying to stir up a
feeling against the japanese is perfectly in
comprehensive to me. During and since
the Russian war the sympathy of our peo-
pie for Japan and their admiration for the
nation that accomplished such wonders
were spontaneous and unbounded, and the
great mass of Americans today have an af-
lection for the Japanese such as they feel
for very few who are not of our own flesh
and blood
ITO attempt to destroy the traditional
friendship between Japan and America is
ungenerous and unpatriotic and 1t becomes
not only absurd, but dangerous, when we
consider the present position of the two
countries in respect to the far east. and to
gard to which we entertain such fiattering
hopes
For, strange as It may seem. Japan Is
today the only nation in the world which,
as enemy, would be really formidable
to US on the sea- England will not assail
us. for in addition to the close ties of
blood. friendship and commerce, there Is
Canada. No other European poyer could
successfully meet us, for the fight would be
In our own waters. where they have no
foothold. but with Japan the case Is differ
ent There Is no doubt that the possession
Of the Philippines. the Sandwich Islands
and the Seal Islands would be Of great
value to Japan. and their conquest would
destroy many Of our hopes In the Pacific.
If War Should Come.
Now. with a divided navy and the i'm
mense distances to be traversed and the
paucity Of coaling and naval facilities. how
could we defend them against the united
navy of japan fighting in its own waters?
II the Japanese should be provoked to a
war 1t would come suddenly like the war
with Russia, and with us, too there might
be the same rude awakening.
1T is true that after a struggle of years
we might build and launch new ornaments
and finally wear them out, but at what
dreadful cost would all this be done and
nothing would be gained by 1t which Is not
attainable by a little common sense and
friendly behavior right at the present time!
1T is not likely that Japan would wan
tonly provoke conflict out of a clear sky.
That would outrage the world and her
ally, England, would undoubtedly discour-
age it, notwithstanding the temporary ad-
vantage which English commerce might
gain from an American war. Yet very
little spark is all that is necessary to furnish
a reason which might make Japanese public
sentiment in favor of such a war irresist-
ible to the government, and which might
justify such war in the eyes of the rest
of mankind.
1T is our business to see that no such
pretext is furnished and that the rights
as well as the feelings of the Japanese are
respected to the uttermost.
Ready, but Never the Aggressor.
"Rumor has 1t that in spite of the great
drain upon japanese resources during the
last war. both the army and navy Of
Japan has been recently increased. How
ever uncertain the object of this increase
of armament. there can be no doubt what
course it would take If public feeling
against America should be sufficiently ex-
asperated. Our own course in this matter
as well as In all others affecting our rela-
tons with foreign powers is always to be
ready for a conflict, but never to provoke
it,"