The San Francisco call., 1907-06-23

DonS OF the United States to the orient.
and Japan in particular, have engaged
the earnest attention of President
Roosevelt and Secretary Root for sew
eral weeks past They have not only
been disturbed by the frequent publi-
cations Of articles in this country and
In Japan, tending to disturb the friend
snip of the two governments, but they
have been Obliged to consider even
larger questions arising from the con-
summation of several international
agreements affecting the orient. One
of these is the Japanese-F French treaty.
recently ratified, and the other is the
Russo-Japanese treaty, now practically
executed.
The Japane French treaty purports
10 be merely a renewal of the COM
mercial treaty that has existed be-
tween those countries, but II is more
than that 1t is a compact whereby
France recognizes the integrity of
China, secretly if not expressly. The
text Of the treaty is in the possession
Of Secretary Root, copy of the docu-
ment having been handed to him last
week by Ambassador AokL The re-
public Of France. however. unlike the
American republic. is able to make
treaties through its executive alone,
and partly secret, If deemed advisable
by the ministry.
The treaty between Japan and
Russia ii is now well understood by
diplomats, contains secret paragraphs
On its face it purports to bind both
governments very definitely as to their
activities in Manchuria. Secretly, the
treaty is understood to contain a pro-
gram OF action on the part of japan
and Russia, whereby the way is paved
for them to become allies in preserving
Asia from the encroachments of other
powers Indeed, the belief is eX-
pressed in Washington that Japan and
Russia are now in fact secret allies,
under an arrangement more binding
upon Japan than that which attaches
her to Great Britain.
FOR CONQUEST OF ASIA
What is Japans object in entering
into entangling alliances with at least
two powerful nations, with the pros
pect that two others will regard them
selves as linked with her? Obviously
it is for the purpose of safeguarding
and consummating her commercial
conquest of Asia. Japan believes that
off of China the day of her own COM
mercial conquest of the celestial en-
pire viii not be long delayed 1t is
with this object that Japan has obli-
gated herself TO Great Britain, France
Russia, all at once, and prospectively
Italy. This is the reason why she is
working with frenzied energy to build
up a merchant marine, to open up
Korea and Formosa, to rehabilitate the
Manchurian railroad, to develop COM
merce at Tairen (Dalny) and to take
over the big trade of Annoy.
IN all of her international engage
ments Japan publishes the policy of
the open door in China. The port of
Tairen is open to all corners on equal
terms and the Manchurian railroad is
not to give rebates TO Japanese ship
pers But the good faith of Japan has
not been so firmly established as to be
beyond suspicion. 1t is alleged that If
the through traffic arrangements of
japanese shippers We're examined 1t
would be discovered that the Japanese
government has perfected system
that is in effect a payment of bounty
upon all goods exported to Manchuria.
Thus, while these goods find no favor
able discrimination at the port of en-
try or upon the Manchurian railroad.
they nevertheless arrive at their desti
nation at less cost than goods from
competing countries. While denial is
made that such system exists, the
United States government for one is
convinced that it does exist. Its offl-
GERS in Manchuria and China have sent
too much detailed information on the
point to have it ignored.
FEARS CLASH WITH JAPAN
The result has been to make Secre-
tary Root somewhat skeptical of the
success of the open door policy in
China He is not nearly as enthusias-
tic over this great policy, the policy
that made John Hay famous as a dip
lomat, as he was when he became
Hays successor. Mr.. Roots skepti-
cism has increased perceptibly in the
in q
last three or four months. At the
same time his anxiety to avoid any
friction whatever with Japan has been
so noticeable as to cause comment
among foreign correspondents here III
Root were in possession OF informa-
ton giving him reason to fear clash
with japan he could not observe the
proprieties with more scrupulous care.
Is there any significance in the coin
cfdent changes of attitude? Is the
secretary of state conspicuously con-
siderate Of Japanese feeling in the
trivial matters recently SO grotesquely
exaggerated, for the reason that he
foresees a clash on questions Infinitely
more important, and is determined that
Japan shall have no cause for offense?
Is trouble coming, not on account OF
friction in America, but on account OF
friction in the orient?
The president and Secretary Root
find plenty of embarrassment in the
question of the open door in the orient.
1t is difficult, even for diplomacy, TO
keep a door open and closed at the
same time, and this is what the United
States is trying to do in the orient. In
the Philippines it's policy is to close
the door. In China, two days away,
its policy is to open the door. Well. is
not Japan doing the same thing? Does
not Japan shut the world out of her
own house and invite all nations to
step into China on the same terms?
The answer to this question is that
Japan is ostensibly doing this, but in
fact is not observing the open door rule
in China In other words, she is con-
sistent in keeping all doors shut
against outsiders and opening them to
her own people
CONFLICT MAY COME
1t is this course which, it is believed,
may lead to misunderstanding and pos
sible friction between Japan and the
United States If this government could
enter into secret treaties 1t might make
a dicker with Japan, as other govern