New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
RELATIONS WITH JAPAN
CORDIAL, SAYS MR.. ROOT.
No Inwopriety in Sending Battle
ships to Pacifc-ErcIusi0n Question.
From The Trtbune Bureau. !


between the United States and Japan which
make 1t improper to send the American battle
ship fleet 10 the Pacific. If there We're. the rela-
tions between the United States and Great
Britain and the relations between the United
States and France. which the same. would
forbid the maintenance of the battleship fleet in
the Atlantic Ocean"
This authoritative statement was made to-day
by Secretary Root after a long conference with
the Japanese Ambassador. and following a
luncheon at the White House yesterday. at
which the ambassador was the guest Of the
President. this being the first even informal
entertainment given by Mr.. Roosevelt since his
return to Washington.
Secretary Root still further emphasized the
fact that not only are the relations between this
country and Japan entirely friendly now. but
that they have been all along. and that all as
sertons to the contrary have been merely news
paper talk or idle speculation on the part OF
informed or Ill intentoTe1 persons.
Practically the first question put to the Presi-
dent on his return from Louisiana by news
paper correspondent was whether the Pacific
cruise would or could be regar rded as jeopardiz-
ing the relations Of this country with japan,
and further. whether II true that Japan
was making extraordinary efforts to perfect her
military establishment The President gave an
emphatic "Nor' to both questions and expressed
himself at some length on the Stiffness Of the
reports which have found their way into o-il-
narily conservative newspapers.
The ambassador spent considerable time with
Mr.. Root. The purpose Of his call was to dis
cuss what steps. II any. might be needed or could
be taken 70 promote the efficiency Of the legisla-
tion adopted by the last Congress to prevent the
immigration Of Japanese laborers. while the door
is left open to Japanese citizens Of cultivation
and means. 1t is no secret that the japanese
government Is most anxious to further by its
own acts the ends regarded as essential by the
United States Japan wishes her emigrants 10
settle in Corea, and To that end is exploiting
some large colonization schemes. Having been
informed by Secretary Taft that the legislation
Of last winter was not working satisfactorily,
the japanese government Instituted an investi-
cation. which Immediately disclosed the fact
that the emigration companies were seeking by
ingenious methods to evade the law, and il
placed them under heavy bonds TO observe its
statutes and reguIations-bonds so heavy in
fact. that it drove a number Of them out OF busi-
ness and by thus reducing the number mate
rally facilitated supervision of the operations Of
those remaining. II also was largely to learn
the effect Of these more recent steps that the
japanese Ambassador called on the Secretary Of
State.
The fact is that. instead of indicating that
Japan is disposed to go to war with the United
States all the advices received from the diplo-
matte representatives of this country are to the
effect that the contrary is the case. Japan is
seeking to rehabilitate her military establish
ment following her with Russia, precisely
this country made extraordinary efforts to
remedy the defects revealed by the war with
Spain But beyond that. there is not the slight
est indication
war with any nation, and this view is amply
confirmed by the observations of the diplomatic
representatives Of other nations stationed at
Toxic and by the view entertained in other capI-
tails
The chief effort of Japan at the present time
IS to obviate the necessity of a Japanese exclu-
sion law in this country. 1t has been pointed
out here and in Toxic that such a law will be-
come practically inevitable If the immigration
of Japanese laborers continue, whereas. II the
two governments by cooperation. prevent
such immigration, such law will be neces-
sary
The existing treaty with Japan cannot be ter
minated without a rupture of diplomatic rela-
tions until July II. 1912 Either nation is
quired to give years notice of a desire to
terminate the agreement, and such notification
cannot be given until after July II, 1911. Under
the provisions of this treaty the United States
by express stipulation, has the right to enact
such laws affecting immigration as it may deem
necessary. The provision reads in part fol-
lows:
1t is, however, understood that the stipula-
tions contained in this and the preceding article
Guaranteeing the rights of the citizens of the
respective nations) do not in any way affect
the laws, ordinances and regulations with
gard to the immigration of laborers which
in force. which may be enacted in either of
the two countries"
Under this provision the United States is of
course, at liberty to enact any exclusion legls-
lation affecting japanese Iaborers it may deem
necessary and full appreciation of that fact.
together with a realization of the further fact
that the continued immigration OF laborers
might cause disturbances which would threaten
the cordial relations between the two countries.
naturally disposed the Japanese authorities to
do all in their power to make the existing regu-
lations effective. such enactment would
constitute a blow to that nations pride.
Mr. Root expressed himself satisfied with
the outcome of to-day's conference and the
President regards the situation with complete