New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-07
REAL JAP QUESTION.
THE ISSUE NOT N1RROW.
Right of One State to Embayrass
the Whole Nation TnUolUed.
IRON The Trbune Bureau,

washington, Feb 6.-'The real iss,,a ,r,-o1,o7
IN the pending litigation growing out Of the
segregation Of Japanese school children in san
Francisco is not the narrow question Of whether
or not the State OF California shall exercise no.
Ice powers within its limits" said a high official
Of the administration to-day when his attention
was called TO the letter OF ex-Secretary OInev to
Representative Mccall.
1.-The real issue involved" he added dis
whether or not state has the right so to dis
criminate against the citizens OF a single nation.
with which the United States is on friendly
terms, as 10 threaten. perhaps destroy. the
friendly relations existing between that country
and the United States. and thus precipitate a
situation which may plunge the whole nation
into war"
The administration continues to deprecate the
talk Of war with Japan, and to point TO the fact
that japanese officials are as earnest in their eff
forts to prevent the inception or the growth. Of
hostile feeling as are the officials Of this country
Il is pointed out that in no instance has the gov
eminent taken any steps which may rightly be
Interpreted as preparation for war: that the an
propriatiOns asked Of Congress for fortiflcations
in the Philippines and Hawaii are in accordance
with estimates and plans. most Of them long ago
agreed upon by the army engineers. and many
OF them previously submitted to Congress In
the case Of the 100000 asked of Congress for
the fortifCation of Hawaii for instance. this
same request was made Of Congress a year ago
AZ that time Congress appropriated $4,000 to
purchase site in Pearl Harbor but did not
provide the funds needed for the construction
and armament of the Notifications This wear
the Secretary Of War asked Congress for the
sS000o0 needed TO carry into effect the plans
originally agreed upon. The House scaled the
estimate down to 100000 The Senate commit
tee followed the lead Of the House and the SEN
arc he fra
floor, and increased the amount 10 100000, still
$4,000 less than the plans require. And It is
remarked by the officials that when next year,
the Secretary OF War IS compelled 10 urge the
appropriation Of this remaining 100000, hys-
teriCaI writer's viii doubtless again raise the cry
Of preparation for immediate war with Japan"
The policy OF this administration has been.
from the first, ample preparation for war; not
because war with any nation was expected, but
because the administration believes that ample
preparation is by far the best preventive Of
war Il is argued that the nation. which Is
amply prepared for war is the nation least
likely 10 be provoked beyond endurance by any
other nation disposed 10 be unrea sonabIe In
accordance with this policy the general staff of
the army, the army engineer corps and the
navy officials are constantly preparing for war,
gathering and compiling information, invesu
eating and testing paraphernalia, designing and
erecting Notifications, manufacturing ordnance
and ammunition, constructing battleships and
training men TO shoot straight. But no reason
ing person interprets the normal activities Of the
military establishment OF the government as an
indication that the administration expects or
fears war with any nation, and efforts TO create
mat Impression at the present time are, it IS
declared, not only fnischieVOuS but unwarTanted.
On the other hand. there Is disposition on
the part of the adniniStrcst on 10 minimize the
danger to the friendly relations of the United
States with any nation whose citizens are treat
ed with disrespect and even with contempt, even
by small portion Of the citizens Of a single
state. It is appreciated, too. that belicose ut
terances OF men naturally supposed to hold high
places and WELD influence IN the affairs Of the
nation are a nenace.to the preservation of such
friendly relations. 1t is declared that unfair
treatment of the citizens Of any great power
even the citizens Of Great Britain, for instance
would, If persisted IN, strain the relations be-
tween that country and this and would, there
fore, constitute an evil and injustice TO the
nation a whole.