The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-12
TAFT
WILL VISIT JAPAN.
Believed That He Will Go There
to Allay Hostile
Feeling.
.-- 1870 Z $500
.R RI ! TALK 81: OF WAR.
Few japanese Sympathizcrs Are
to Be Found i'll America
Now.
RlDICULlNG TALK OF WAR
BY wALTI1I, EDWARD lIAl,I,Is.

BY WALTEI, EDWARD IIANItIs.
WASHINGTON, D1{ c., June tilt Is
more than likclyithat when Secretary
Taft goes to tho Philippines this year
he will spend some time in Japan, as
the guest OF the Japanese government
It Is believed the President and the
War Secretary, as we'll as Secretary
Root, plan to have this visit, in order
to do what Is possible towards allaying
nti-American sentiment in japan.
The administration is perfectly will
Ing to go this far towards conciliating
Japan. It will not make concessions.
1t will not apologize. 1t may. as was
stated yesterday In this correspondence,
go 30 far as to administer q distinct
rebuke Of some character to the Jap
nnese government It is believed the
attitude OF the State Department to-
wards Japan is now precisely that
which the American public will ap
prove-one OF dignity, moderation and
almness--ready to conciliato If con-
Citation be not asked at the price OF
our dignity but determined to go not
a step beyond the bounds OF conven-
tional international diplomatic usage.
All for Japan Once
Formerly there was manifest at
Washington disposition to yield many
things to the little Japs-a spirit of
easy tolerance Of the little fellows.
who were unused to civilized usages.
But this day has passed. SO Irritating
have the Japs become in the past year.
or such q matter. During the progress
OF Japan's war with Russia the gov
eminent hero was embarrassed by the
frequent displays of sympathy with
l.t.Z o.. Il
ever a member OF the Japanese legation
showed himself in public. On the af-
ternoon following the first battle at
Port Arthur, at the beginning of the
war, the Japanese minister and one or
two attaches, who came downtown to
read the bulletin boards, were almost
mobbed by an excited crowd OF jap
nnese sympathizers, and had to hold a
levee on the sidewalk on Pennsylvania
Avenue. In fact, the pro-Japanese sem
timent became 80 strong that Presiden.
Roosevelt had to issue an order direct
ing officials of the government and de-
partmental attaches to abstain from
discussing the war.
How Feeling Hns Changed.
But all that is changed now. It Is
not hard to find men who were strong
~ with japan in sympathy during the
var who do not now express regret
that Russia had not won. Incidentally
President Roosevelt 8 blamed for not
having allowed the two nations to fight
the war to finish and giving Russia
a chance to finally overthrow the in
sular Kingdom. The Japanese,Yhaye
become SO cocky, and they have been
SO outspoken in their criticisms OF the
American people and their govern.
mental system. especially our Constt-
tuition and congressional enactments
with reference to immigration. that
American officials who, have had tc
meet and deal with Japanese represen-
feeling of which they were formerly
conscious. 1t is probably the same
with the American people, who have
had opportunity to know japanese
since the conclusion OF the war
laps Eager to Flight.
Ap official said to day that it was be.
lieVed that the masses Of the people OF
Japan were eager to fight America
They believe that 1t will be as easy an6
easier to whip America than Russia
since the population Of the latter is
much greater. Japan is overwhelm.
lingly In debt as the result of the las
war. The common people believe the
simplest way to lift the debt is to fight
and vanquish America, and compel the
payment OF an indemnity large enough
to wipe out the Indebtedness.
OF course, the enlightened statesmen
Of Japan do not cherish any such be
liefs concerning the ease with which
This class does not want war. Wal
cannot be waged without money, Il
/ is realized that 1t would be an utter
impossibility for Japan to secure finan,
cinl support in Europe for wal
against America, the outcome of which
would be an absolute certainty from
| the beginning. The termination o.
such war would not only be disas
trous to Japanese arms, but would near
the plunging Of the empire into in
debtedness from which she could no
emerge in generations.
1 The clear realization Of these fact!
by the Mikado, and his advisers cause!
the belief in Washing. ON that o. war Il
remote. Wars arc won by the side
with the longest pocketbook. Japan
Is pretty short. Famine Is Of not in
frequent occurrence. One American hal
eight times the earning capacity of .
4 JAPANESE; stated differently, on,
i American earns as much as eight ia
panesc. 1t will take such n nation
4 long time to pay off as great debt a
that under which Iapan is staggering
\ How the Fleets Rank.
i Although there is no probability o
war with Japan in the near future, ma
val and army officers are Interested ii
comparing the strength of the tw.
powers, especially on the sea, wher,
tho fighting would be done in case o
war. The United States is third among
fha nOwara IN nOint Fof naval ct raprt !,
Japan is fifth. The strength OF TIL
: two powers on the sea Is as follows;
MISUNDERSTANDING 81; armore,
y ,r1l core = q nrat antad