Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-01
OUR RELATIONS WITH JAPAN.
The President Considers Possibility Of
Grave Consequence.

| OUR RELATIONS WITH JAPAN.
The President Considers Possibility Of
Grave Consequences.
The sinister fact that all Is not well
between the United States and japan
in spite of the statement that the Ja-
panese government gave its consent to
the enactment Of the amendment ex-
Guiding coolies from the mainland Of
the United States, cannot much longer
be concealed. says the Washington
Post OF Thursday last.
Dispatches from Tokyo admit that
the Japanese populace Is becoming
more demonstrative in its resentment
against this country and its own gov
ernment for consenting to the exclu-
sion Of Japanese from the American
mainland. The protest of Japanese In
Hawaii, cabled to Tokyo, was most
emphatic in tone.
A conference was held at the White
House yesterday between the presi-
dent, Secretary Of the Navy Metcalf,
Admiral Dewey. the officers Of the navy
general board. and Rear Admiral Com
verse chief of the bureau Of naviga-
ton. and in spite Of strict injunctions
If secrecy, 1t was learned that the dis
cussion dealt with the relations be-
tween the United States and japan,
and the advisability Of increasing the
naval strength of this country in Pa
cif'c waters.
Certain senator's in the confidence of
the president have been advised for
some time that the relations between
the United States and Japan might
become strained, and the admission is
made in certain quarters that the
president acted with definite knowl-
edge when he took unusual steps to
remove the causes Of friction arising
from the discrimination against ia
ranese in San Francisco.
Yesterdays conference became still
more significant when 1t was learned
that the question Of the disposition of
| war ships was under discussion.
This conference was held at the re-
1uest Of President Roosevelt, who d.
rected Admiral Dewey and the other
members Of the general navy board to
meet him at the White House to dis
cuss the situation, so as to decide as
to whether there Is any necessity for
asking congress for emergency appro-
priations in the event Of the need aris-
ing for the use Of large sums of. money
in an emergency before the next con-
gress convenes.
1t was decided that so far as all the
other nations except japan are con-
cerned our relations are satisfactory,
and there is not likely to be any trou-
BILE so far as can be determined now.
With regard to Japan 1t was decided
that there is no danger Of serious diff
ferences arising in the immediate fu-
ture, but that 1t is apparent that the
Japanese question has not been settled
permanently.
| There is dissatisfaction in Japan
over the adjustment Of the San Fran
cisco school question and the agree
ment between Japan and the United
States to bar the Japanese laborers
from this country. President Roose-
velt laid the situation before Admiral
Dewey and his associates on the gen.
eral naval board. and requested them
to consider the Japanese question In
all its phases and to make suggestions
as to the advisability Of increasing the
American fleet in Asiatic waters. The
president expects an answer from the
general naval board in the near fu-
ture.
The utmost secrecy was maintained
about this important conference, and
when the secretary Of the navy was
asked about 1t he became angry and
declared it an outrage to be asked
about his conference with the presi-
dent. He delivered a heated lecture
to the reporters who asked him for In
formation and ended by saying:
There are subjects which cannot be
| discussed. This Is one Of them. l
am surprised that members OF the
cabinet should be questioned as to
what transpires at the cabinet meet
ings, at conferences with the presi-
dent and that senators should be ask
ed about the executive sessions OF the
senate. l did not ask the president
If I could talk about this subject. Con-
seuuently, l cannot do so. Even when
question is of minor Importance, l
cannot discuss 1t without first getting
permission Of the president"
1t is now regarded in administration
circles that the Japanese question has
not been settled, but that its perma-
nent adjustment has been merely post
pOned. 1t believed the subject will
be under consideration for at least an
other year before a final settlement Is
reached. President Roosevelt and the
members Of the general naval board
do not believe there will be war with
Japan in the near future, but there
Is a strong sentiment in favor OF in
creasing the American naval strength
in the Orient and this action Will In
all probability be recommended by Ad-
miral Dewey and his associates.