The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-21
OFFICIAL
MISDOUBTS
JAPANESE
THEIR NAVAL ACTIvI-
TIES AROUSE DEEP
SUSPICION
IS MIKAD0 PREPARING
TO SPRING A COUP
If So, Will it Be Against
Germany, or Fight With
Uncle Saml

Washington, June 81 - Against
whom is Japan making ready its
navy? The United States or Ger
many?
This is the suggestive question
which I put to one of the highest
officials IN the government. He
stipulated that his name should not
be used. and it therefore must be
suppressed, With this understand
ing he discussed freely the situation
in the far east
Il do not like the looks OF things. ?
the official said. shaking his head
gravely. We know that the Japanese
are working their arsenals and ship
yards night and day. They are manu-
featuring ammunition and strengthen
ing their navy with all the energy of
an immediate crisis.
Against whom are these prepara-
tions being made? II is all very well
TO handy fair words; but why work
the shops? Japan has a treaty with
Engand and has just completed one
with France. No power Is menacing
Japan. With their normal navy and
such strong alliances they are entire
ly safe from aggression. Then why?
1T is possible. OF course. that
they are preparing TO make trouble
for Germany. They are talking
about the integrity of China and
they may be preparing to serve no
tice on Germany to get out of the
Chan Tung peninsula. The Ger
mans have q lease and a sphere of
influence for a certain radius about
kio Chau bay This Is distasteful
to Japan, which desires to dOmi-
nate China without German inter
ference. That may be It. But Ger
many is "A strong power and has
a good fleet, and II hardly seems
likely that japan would want to in
yite trouble in that quarter
lis IL the United States2 Are
they looking for trouDIe with us7
We hope not But why should they
show this recent disposition to
make a mountain out of mole hill?
Why this constant clamor in their
native press? Why this attitude OF
a chip on the shoulder? Their peo.
pie are tired Is well as any for.
ign people who ea.ne - our shores
II they are iniurel tney have the
! same remedy that our people
have lney are not acting In q
friendly way
There are plenty OF good reasons
why the Japanese should not want
war with us. We always have been
their friends. They do not need any
more territory. They have Korea
and the Manchurian peninsula.
see no reason why they should coyet
the Philippines
Moreover, II they get into trouble
with Us they will be certain to gel
the worst of Il Ia the end. II is
said we are unprepared: that the
Japanese could easily wipe up the
few cruisers and old gunboats We
have ON the Pacific station. IL 4.
added that Guam, Hawaii and Alaska
would so with the Philippines. and
that the cities OF the Pacific coas
would be menaced by a hostil,
fleet.
IT Is said. Moreover. that the fac
that the canal is not completed, ant
that we have neglected to f0rjify &
naval base in the Philippines al
subig bay. tempts Japan 10 hastel
the trouble
Presenting this 10 be true-ant
II probably Is so far as the unpre
paredness is concerned-that wouls
be only the FIRST chapter Of thu
story. What would Japan do whei
our Atlantic fleet got around ans
twent up against their dozen battle
shlpsl Is there any donbt that VI