New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-10
RELATIONS WITH Japan.

| RELAt LOAS VII II JAfAN
American relations with Japan, which are
| just now being much discussed in various coun-
tries, not always here or elsewhere with as
perfect a degree of dispassionate judgment as
might be desired or as might, indeed, not I'M
/ reasonably be expected, are of much interest
| and Importance, and in at least one respect Of
| some delicacy; but they surely are not such as
| should cause any extraordinary anxiety or any
! apprehension of an impairment Of the mutual
| respect and confidence which have existed for
| so many years. An unhappy sample of in
| judiciOus-and incidentally quite incorrect
| comment was afforded last week in talk about
| Frances offer of mediation between America
! and Japan, as though the two countries were on
| the point Of war, or at least were suspending
| diplomatic relations, when q matter of fact
| there was no dream of any such mediation"
| or of cause for it, There is of course no oc-
| casion for the employment of the good offices
| of any third power between these two. 1t
would be most extraordinary If there were,
| seeing that il was the United States which was
the original mediator between Japan and all
the rest Of the world
The suggestion of the French government,
which was most gracious and grateful though
not practically available, seems to have looked
toward an induction of the United States into
some such relationship with Japan as that
which France herself IS about to form if not
indeed such as that which Great Britain some
years ago established Such a purpose was
friendly and benevolent, but it will not indi-
cate any lack of appreciation of those quail
ties TO observe that it might be regarded as
superfiuous, seeing that so far as the question
of the integrity of China and the general status
quo in the Far East is concerned the United
States was almost as much the pioneer in NOV
! ing for the settlement now desired as il was in
the opening" of Japan. Upon those matters
no further assurances of the American attitude
and policy can reasonably be required or de
sired than have already been given, and than
were in fact given by this country long before
any European power took n similar step SO far
as anything more IS concerned, such, for ex-
ample as an alliance like that between Japan
and Great Britain, it should scarcely he neces-
sary again to repeat the reminder that this
country does not enter into engagements Of that
| kind with any ether land It took the tri-
umphant initiative in moving for the guarantee
Of Chnas integrity and the open door, and N
restoring peace between Japan and Russia. and
it Will remain faithful TO the policies which it
then put into practice: hut there seems to be
no occasion for It to depart from the uon-alIi-
ance principle which it has 50 consistently
maintained for more than n century.
There is nevertheless something peculiarly
gratifying in the incident Of the French offer.
and that in q tWOfOd sense. II win be recalled
that in the era of the Russo-Iapanese War
France was regarded as the next friend" Of
Russia; and now she assumes almost a like
relationship toward Japan. Again, Ia the days
of our Spanish war France was the next
friend OF our temporary antagonist; and now
she makes an overture to rs which bespeals
an equal degree of friendship with this country.
1t is, we say, doubIy gratifying to observe this
spirit Of amity and Of confidence between
France and Japan and between France and
America and merely as a denOtcment Of its
existence this suggestion Of the French govern
ment well worth the making fact not
at all ignored or minimzed in decnation to
put the suggestion into practice.
1t will not Of course escape notice that in
the near future there is 10 be a general and
probably a pretty radical recasting Of conven-
tional relations between Japan and practically
all other nations. The general treaty Of COM
m6rce and navigation between America and
Japan, which was made in 1894 viii expire on
July II. 1911, or a little more than four years
hence, and aT about the same time similar
treaties between Japan and other powers will
( also terminate. 1t is well known that n strong
desire exists in Japan for a material modifica-
ton Of some Of the terms of those treaties,
especially in respect 10 fiscal arrangements. The
protective tariff policy is gaining much strength
in Japan, and it is not improbable that a sys-
TEN resembling that Of Germany, with maxi
mum and minimum rates, will be adopted.
Negotiations for these treaties are still in
the future and may not need to be undertaken
for two or three years yet; but anticipation of
and preparation for them strongly affect the
Japanese mind and conduct in all diplomatic
proceedings at the present time. The net out
come of what is now being done and of what
will be done in treaty making a few years
hence will unquestionably be the complete
Mobilization of Japan a sovereign nation
among her peers. in a manner which will make
it at once deplOrable and futile for petty and
local race prejudices to lie cherished anywhere
against her and her people.