The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-11
JAPAN REALLY LOVES Us
WlR TALK BOSH, SAYS THE REV.
DIR. DE FOREST, MISSIONARY.
Has Lived with the japanese Thirty.three
Years and Knows Them or High and
Low Degree War Would Ie n Calamity
TO Civilization Cant Come, lie says.

Low Degree War Would Ie n Calamity
d 20 Civilization Cant Come, lie says.
The Rev. Dr.. John II. De Forest. whohas
been a missionary under the American
Board Of Foreign Missions in Japan fo
thirty-three years and who is now in Brook
lyn on a vacation. says the talk about war
with Japan is sheer nonsense. lie bases
his opinion not only on his long and intimate
acquaintance with the Japanese people but
on his friendship with high government
officials and army and navy men. He
was at the front in Manchuria in the war
with Russia and has the personal friend
ship of such men as Coun katsura. the
war Premier Gen. Kuroki and Count Okuma.
DR.. De Forest believes it is not wise TO
send a battleship feet to the Pacific. but
says that if one does go he hopes 1t will go
straight to Yokohama.
From the past friendship of Japan, l
firmly believe that the fleet would receive
one Of the greatest ovations Japan has ever
rendered" DR.. De Forest said yesterday in
an interview. 81 am amazed at the promi-
hence which part Of the press OF the United
States has given 10 this lingo war talk. To
think that there could he any war over the
California difficulties is to ignore the strong
est bonds that could possibly bind two ma
ions together.
"The japanese have the deepest rever-
ence. admiration and love for the United
States. Ever since Commodore Perry
opened up their country more than fifty
years ago their gratitude and love for us
have been increasingly strong. The Amer
lean Ministers from Judge Bingham. one
Of the first. with only one exception. have
been wonderfully helpful and sympathetic.
The Japanese recognize and appreciate
it.. We were the only nation that ever gave
back their indemnify. We treated them
decently. They will never forget theee
things.
In the recent war they were intensely
eager to get the sympathy of the United
States. They got il. for they were really
fighting a battle for liberty against despot-
ism. Ioould not coun the number of army
and navy men. also the people of the middle
classes and the laborers. whom ! have met
who thanked thisc country for its sympathy.
This wal talk is cruel and shameful. II is
merely that the jingoes here have aroused
the Jlngoes there.
sin January, before ! left Japan, Premier
Saionii in his opening address TO the House
of Representatives dismissed the San Fran
Cltdo liO1bAV plFIN ~ lis NiN'A. ~ "No Aob
of international significance and probably
would not be. Gen. kurokf at Boston.
before he left this country. said To me;
The San Francisco school trouble is merely
a local affair and has no international sig
nihcanca whatever The people of Japan
feel that san Francisco does not represent
the heart of the American public, but take
their view of IL from the words of President
Roosevelt, IN whom they have the grea asst
confidence.
Count Katsura. Premier during the
Russian. war and a soldier. said to me just
after the wal had started: We fight If
necessary. but hate war. We have STAYED
of his war for six months. but our princi-
ples are opposed to Russia's. so we must
light After the war he told me IL had
been one for liberty and the open door for
all. And the truest expression OF the Jap
anese national spirit is contained in this
quotation:
III any one inquiries what is the national
spirit OF ~Japan-it is like the wild cherry
blossoms on the mountain sides, whose
fragrance is freely given TO all the atmos-
phere and whose blossoms fall from the
trees to die. rejoicing
THAT hoes not look like a war spirit
But the lingo papers tell of the swelled
heads of the Japanese. There was never
ony one so modest over victories. For
ak weeks after their big victories | met
generals, colonies and privates, but / never
saw a glimpse of joy or heard a boastful
WOIu hHtA SCAAc - ~
could well afford to sit at their feet and
learn to be modest. l believe that one
source of this lingo talk is in the disgruntled
war correspondents Of the Russian war
Those who went out at the beginning OF
the war we're sorely disappointed when
not allowed TO go at once TO the front. The
Japan Md,L has said more than once that
some of these men resolved to do all they
could to throw dirt upon Japan because
of their treatment.
a1S - a xatetoEn 70 rharna Tp1tnf nkt,x.a
with being the leader of any war spirit
against the United States. He is one oil
our warmest friends and would never lend
himself to any such debased jingoism,
While he is leading the Progressives and
opposing the administration, he is not the
man to make any trouble with America
He must necessarily oppose the administra-
ton, as the political parties OF Japan are
largely a matter OF being in or out, and
nave no very we'll defined policies which
diferentiate either side. He and all other
intelligent japanese know that a nation
can do as il likes in excluding coolle labor
Japan itself will not allow a Chinese coole
in the country over night.
"A war with Japan would be the highest
calamity TO the civilization of the world
Il Is fortunate that there is no possibility
Of It. 1t Is not only impossible to get up
a war in the present situation, but there
is not stuff enough to get up for nm arbitra-
ton case. This foolish talk must lower
us In the eyes Of European nations.
&c Is a most unhappy thing that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who has won the admira-
ton of japan, should play into the hands
OF the jingoes at this time by the sending
the feet TO the Pacific. But even here |
believe the real spirit Of Japan-not merely
a wordsd sentiment with a hidden mean
ing-is this:
Eff the feet comes to Japanese waters,
let US welcome it az the navy Of our best
friepd and give it the warmest greeting
possible
-'The Japanese Government is absolutely
true to the United States, which has been
its friend az no other nation has. There
is no more truthful and righteous Govern
ment in it's international relations then
that Of Japan"