The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-02
ALL EXPECT WAR
YET WITH JAPAN
May Be Matter ofMonths
or Of Years. But Is
Looked For.
BOTH NATIONS TO
PREVENT 1T
They Are Also Concealing All
Possible as to the Feeling in
the Two Countries-The
Labor Question More
Serious Than
Schools.
BY WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.

WASHINGTON, D. C., February L.
War with Japan Is regarded here as only
question OF time. 1t may be a, matter
of years before hostilities begin. 1t may
be n matter of but a few months Tha
there will be war between the two
spevre,sss is heiiev,tis by ev,sry ene al all
familiar with the present state of dip
lomatic negotiations and the state of
public feeling In Japan.
There Is as little doubt that the gov
ernment Of Japan and the government of
the United States are doing all possible
to prevent an outbreak. It is also lust
as true that the government of both
countries are striving to conceal certain
things.
The government of Japan Is endeavor-
ing TO conceal every hostile sentiment to-
wards Americans, which prevails among
all classes In the Mikado's empire. and
the American government Is trying just
as hard to conceal the fact that the Jap
anese public sentiment. as reflected in the
attitude of the officials OF the Japanese
Foreign Office, is such that war, sooner
or later, is inevitable.
Officials Look Forward.
The foregoing is based on conversations
With several high officials. who will not
admit publicly that there is anything in
they do not attempt to deny that the sit
uation is a very delicate one, which must
be handled with extreme care and that
there is little hope that more than the
delay of All outbreak can be accomplished.
The State Department is eXhausting
diplomacy in efforts TO smooth over mat
aters and restore good feeling.
But, more to the point and more in ac-
cord with the dictates of the situation
it would seem the Secretary OF War and
the Secretary Of the Navy are exhaust
ing every means OF bringing the land
and naval forces of the country to a
stage OF preparedness justified by the
threatening conditions.
Japan will not consent to negotiate
any treaty which does not accord to the
citizens of Japan in this country all the
rights and privileges accorded citizens
of the most favored nations. The peo-
pie of California will not permit the
children of Japanese to enter public
schools for white children. The people
of California and Oregon and Washing
ton State steadfastly oppose the un-
restricted immigration of Japanese lab
orers.
They are coming in now at rate
which Is alarming, and which makes it
certain that in the space of comparatively
a few years the male population of the
Pacific Slope will be composed of a ma
jority of Japanese.
Labor Question Serious.
1t Is believed that investigation will
reveal that In reality the labor question
is Of more Importance and is exercising
the minds of Pacific coast people to
much greater degree than the question
OF admitting Japanese children to white
schools. The labor unions of San Fran
cisco are quite willing--in fact, prefer
to put the school question to the fore,
1t is true, according to high authority,
that the government OF Japan has agreed,
in the course of negotiations on the pend
ing treaty that If America will agree
to q clause guaranteeing admission of
Japanese children to white schools, Japan
will agree to clause prohibiting the
admission Of Japanese laborers into the
United States; but 1t Is believed that
should America yield this point Japan
would also make other stipulations which
would make it impossible for our govern
ment to reach an agreement with the
japanese negotiators.S
In short, Japan is so proud Of her new
place In the ssterhood> of civilized
nations she will not be willing to accept
in the form of a treaty which
does not recognize the absolute equality
of Nippon with every other nation called
civilized and enlightened.