Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-17
PEACE

winch is 10 the effect that the SalllnS
of the Pacific fleet yesterday bears with
it a grave menace to the friendly rela-
tions between the United States and
Japan. in America few observers will
take such pessimistic view of this act
Of our government.
The Pacific coast is more intensely
Immediately interested in the Japanese
policy of the federal government than
any other part of America. Likewise,
it may truthfully be added, few intelli-
gent persons on this coast will be able
to find in the approach of the fleet any
danger to the peace of the country.
The relations between the American
and the Japanese nations is marked by
comfy. There are some. it is true, who
suggest that the extreme urbanity of
that a great fleet of warships would be
dispatched from the Atlantic to the
Pacific is significant of oriental treach-
ery-that it accompanies the calm that
precedes storm. But there is abso-
lutely nothing in the attitude of our
transpacific neighbor, so far as we may
discern, to warrant any such presump-
tion.
The Pacific coast, in common with
the remainder of the country, is not
entirely free from critics who think
they can see Interior motives in every
undertaking on the part of either coun-
try to which the other country is
directly or indirectly party. Alarm
lists of this class are natural trouble
breeders, common disturbers. Most of
them would rather see the two coun-
tries engaged in internecine strife
rather than that a happy issue should
be evolved, simply because of the op-
portunity it would afford them to cry,
"I told you So"
Regardless of the attitude of the
of the western coast, the diplomacy of
the two governments will overcome %he
obstacles to permanent peace. Japan un-
derstands that America will abide by
the terms of the sacred treaty govern
ing the relations between-the two coun-
tries. She understands that, whatever
measures may be adopted by our gov
ernment for expediency's sake, in the
end nothing will be done to offend her
pride. She understands that, much as
the country at large, as well as the
Pacific coast, desires that immigration
from Japan be restricted and ulti-
mately. perhaps. totally prohibited, so
long as we have a treaty which per-
mits immigration under certain con-
ditions that law will be faithfully OBJ
served.
Nevertheless the wiser heads among
the statesmen of Japan have learned
within the past year the unwsdom of
asking America to live UP to the letter
of the treaty. They know that the bet
ter public sentiment in this country is
danger viii attend a too liberal in
depreciation of the treaty by Japan.
They know that prudence demands that
Japan voluntarily relinquish her righl
to dump l1ordes of her subjects upon
the shores of country which, though
friendly as country, contains a large
quota of citizens who have become agi-
tated by the fear that the invasion of
the brown men may assume proportions
that will make their presence intoler-
able.
Knowing these things, Japan's states
men may be depended upon to reduce
to the minimum her American emigra-
ton. AS matter of fact she already
is pursuing this policy. If the truth
were known the mikado and his cabinet
are solving no easy problem in this
direction; neither do they travel a
thornless path in endeavoring to cool
the ardor of the jingoes and fire.
eaters among the Japanese radicals,
now that the fleet is actually on its
way to our coast.
But there is little to fear. Japan won
victories over two nations, both rotten
TO the core, both caught in a deplor-
able state of unpreparedness. But
there is nothing in the history of those
victories nor in the condition of the
United States to warrant a presump-
ton on her part that an attack upon
lthis country would be attended by any
thing except the direst disaster.
Japan is yalorous, but time has de-
veloped a discreet demeanor on her
part. Much as the warlike among her
inhabitants might like to try a bout
with the United States they will not be
allowed to do so, unless the present
government of the island empire should
be overthrown. japan is for peace with
| America.