The Washington herald., 1907-09-30
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 50. 1907.
Secretary Taft as peaeemaker.

Secretary Taft as Peaeemaker.
In the midst Of the feverish prepara-
tiOns Of the Navy Department for the
cruise of the battle ship fleet to Pacific
waters, the genial and expansive Taft
has set foot on japanese soil, announcing
himself as a Secretary Of peace" We
know not whether this phrase has more
than a merely jocular significance
whether Mr.. Taft has any other mission
IN Japan than a social one It appears,
however, that both NJ. Taft and Ambas-
sador o O'Brien have lost no time in assur-
ing the Japanese of the most pacific
intentions Of the American people toward
them, and the Japanese have been equally
quick TO sound the note Of eternal amity.
Replying to an address of welcome. Mr..
Taft referred to the effusive passage re-
lating TO the japanese in President Roose-
velts annual message as containing the
American gospel on the subject Of race
prejudice. That ought to satisfy the most
ardent Japanese patriot.
Almost cOntempOraneously with these
saccharine occurrences in Japan have
administration official during the past
week, who has assured the press that the
decision Of the President 10 send a battle
ship feet 10 the Pacific had brought about
a more conciliatory attitude on the part
Of Japan, who had abandoned her hector
ing and clustering attitude toward the
United States. This achievement on the
part Of the administration was thought
10 have abundantly justified the order to
get the feet in motion. But our SNUG
seif-gratulation is laughed at in London,
according TO an authentic cablegram
There, quite another view is taken of
Japan's present unwiIlingness 10 break
her traditional friendship with this eoun-
try. 1t is pointed out that the recently
ratified treaty between Great Britain and
Russia has greatly lessened the value to
the former country Of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance, although that alliance remains
Of the first Importance to the japanese.
Without il, Nippon would become an fso-
lated Asiatic power. Her policy is. there
fore. strongly influenced by the advice Of
her British ally and that advice has been
steadily given against pursuing a belig-
erent course toward the United States
When the controversy over japanese i'm
migration arose. Japan found that she
would have European sentiment against
her, to quote the London version OF
the International situation, and also that
of her own ally, II she engaged in any
quarrel with this country. she changed
her tactics as soon as she realized the
situation. and it is merely another bit Of
Rooseveltian luck that it should appear
10 be the result of the Presidents yelled
threat Of battle ships" But for the
changing aspect Of world politics, our
London informant intimates. Mr. Roose-
veits order to the battle ships would
have brought about war with Japan. It
would have been taken as a .warlike
move, which would have been met with
counter demonstration.
That we should have been saved from
an Oriental war by a diplomatic readiust-
ment OF European relations with Asia is
not improbable. The remarkable series
Of treaties concluded by England France,
Russia, and Japan, when taken together.
constitute a guarantee Of peace in Asia
Jnat is not likely 10 be soon broken. In
effect, those TO which Japan herself is a
party bind her TO a policy Of territorial
nonaggression. and with the ties Of her
British alliance weakened. she faces the
possibility Of a united Europe insistent on
peace in the Orient. The circumstances,
then, do not encourage the idea of some
japanese jingOes that there are vet other
worlds for them 10 conquer. Their field
Of activity IS, in fact. narrowly circum-
scribed- A war with the United States
could not be waged without European
funds, and these Japan cannot secure.
The door is shut upon japanese expan-
sion, even upon the Asiatic continent. for
she is committed 20 the maintenance Of
the integrity of the Chinese Empire. Her
real interests lie in a peaceful commercial
conquest Of adjacent markets. Every con-
sideTation of statecraft makes for the
conclusion that Japans national safety
now depends on amicable relations with
the rest OF the world. and # seems prob /
able that this is fully realized at Tokyo.
II so, what is the use of sending an
immense war fleet around Cape Horn
with the view Of impressing the japanese
with our ability to defend our own pos |
sessions? Why not let Taft. who is worth |
Il dozen battle ships in that line Of busi- /
ness, do the peacemaking? And If Euro |
pean diplomacy averted war between the |
United States and Japan, why cannot /
American diplomacy reach a solution Of /
the differences between the two countries !
that viii make a conflict at arms impos-
sible and unthinkable?