The Washington herald., 1907-06-11

With the feeling that it is virtually
bound and helpless. powerless TO stem the
tide Of misunderstanding, jingoism. and
"cockiness' on the part aof influential
japanese. the Washington government,
with what patience and calmness it can
muster. IS watching the trend Of events
that slowly but surely seem 10 be under
mining the cordial relations that have ez-
isted and officially still exist between Ja-
pan and the United States.
The two governments are diplomatically
on the best of terms. Nothing has oc-
CURED I'd TO this time to show conclu-
sively that the government Of Japan sym
pathizes with the anti-American policy
that has gained such headway in that
country.
But it is apparent 10 the administTau ton
that ii large and compsrat lively powerful
section Of the japanese people. melted By
agitators who stop at no eXaggeration, is
engaged in a movement that has for its
object either the humiliation Of the United
States or war with this nation.
That the japanese ministry has been
Influenced % some extent by the prevail
ing outcry against America. officials here
feel bound TO believe. They reached that
conclusion reluctantly; in fact. il may be
said that 1t grew upon them unconscious
Is until. coming 10 aualyze what their
honest opinion was they found it impos-
sibI4 e. escape the conviction that Japan
was pursuing a course bound 10 produce
Irritation between the two countries.
Magnifyiug into an International incl
dent aa attack upon a japanese restau-
rant by irresponsible persons evidently
Of the hoodlum class. IS regarded as duo
to jingo agitation.
Ministry + Friendly.
This government. however, IS satisfied
that the japanese ministry is really
friendly toward the United states and
will 90 its utmost 20 preserve cordial re-
Iatious. Whether it can Withstand the
assaults Of the agitators is debatabls
matter that gives concern.
When the japanese school question in
san Francisco brought the Roosevelt ad-
ministra ton face TO face with a serious
international problem. the President and
his advisers decided that the proper
course % pursue was % show 20 Japan
that the feeling against japanese in this
country was confined 20 a comparatively
small section of the Union. and excited
no sympathy among the great bulk Of the
American people or the government IN
Washington.
L IS on account Of the disposition then
shown that the government here IS now
ast0nshed and irritated over the action
of Japan iu making an official issue Of
the latest San Francisco trouble.
The affair was sporadic and resulted
from conditions apart from class hatred.
according to the understanding in WASH
ineton. and in any event, was hardly
worthy of diplomatic inquiry. partiCu-
larlv as the United states had already
shown that il could be depended upon 10
seek 20 correct any abuses Of Japanese
subjects.
Americans Attacked in Japan.
An additional reason for the vexauCn
that prevails i'm official quarters is found
in the attitude Of this government when
E II. Hartman and a party OF Ameri-
cans were assaulted I'm japan. That as
saulr was due TO an outbreak Of anti
American feeling arising from dissatis-
faction over the terms Of the treaty Of
peace between Japan and Russia, for
which President Roosevelt was held re-
sponsibIe. This government felt that it
could afford 90 ignore that Incident
Another cause for increasing the impa-
thence on the part Of the Washington gov
erument was found IN the action Of the
government of France I'm rendering its
good offices for an adjustment Of the dif-
ferences between Japan and the United
States There is feeling here that
France was not actuated hv unselfsh mo-
tIves. Secretary Root has declined the
offer on the stated ground that no occa-
sion had arisen which justified its accept
ance. and while France must have known
in advance what the result would he.
there is a certain satisfaction felt here
that Mr. Roots response will be con-
strued. as It should be. as notice chat the
American government refuses to acknowl-
edge that I'm the recent san Francisco
trouble japan has any Just ground for
complaint against the United States,
Patience Is SoreIy Tried.
Everything that can be done honorablv
TO show Japan that this government IS
making an effort 10 enforce respect for
Japanese treaty rights VIII not be over
looked. but the administrations patience
is being sorely tried, and much as it
would regret any Iessening Of the cordial
bonds that unite the two countries, It has
no intention Of adopting a policy that will
tend to encourage the idea which the
japanese jinEoes are seeking to encour-
age. that the Washington authorities are
I'm a state of blue funk.
The government is satisfied that its con-
duct toward Japan has been correct in
every particular, and it has no apologies
TO make It fully understands that the
japanese government is embarrassed and
hsmpered by the anti-American agitation.
The experiences of the national admins
trations i'm this country in times Of great
popular excitement are not forgotten in
the consideration given to Japans posi-
ton. But il is regarded as extraordinary
that intelligent japanese or a large part
Of them, should permit themselves to be
Continued on Page 2, Column 4.
st co 70 A,nauoUs Md oud ReSur,