Semi-weekly herald., 1907-12-09
POINTS OF FRICTION WITH JAPAN

Two or three months ago much was
said in American newspapers regard
ing the possibility-some writer's de
clared II probability-th Japan
had her eyes on the Philippines and
was not averse to n conflict with tne
United States which would enable her
to add these islands to her empire
The lack of foundation for these as
sumption is now widely recognized
The authorized spokesmen for the mi
kado's government have repeatedly as.
serted their purpose to maintain
friendly relations with this country
and the folly of supposing that they
possession of an archipelago contain
ing some seven or eight millions OF
people little less allied to the Japa-
nese than TO Americans is fairly mani
fest to sober second thought.
II does not follow, however that
points of decided friction between the
Philippines are eliminated from the
category The Japanese are sensitive
or matters OF national pride, as theil
own utterances and the observations
Of those who have lived among them
abundantly show. Since whipping Rus
sia, their confidence In their own naval
and military prowess has naturally
grown--coincident as its growth has
been with the knowledge Of their ar
senals and dockyards We're working
with teverIsh activity 10 increase their
armament by sea and land
1t may be regarded as practically
certain that within the next sixty days
more than one measure will be intro
duced in congress for the exclusion
Of the Japanese from the United
States. Some one of these may pass
In the debates which will accompany
them II is extremely likely that Ger
tain members of the house or senate
from the Pacific slope may utter al
lusions TO Japan and its people which
will keenly he resented on the other
side of the ocean which divides rs
authorities may decline to take cogliz-
anee of these, they will be apt to be re
ported in more or less distorted 'orm
among the masses Of Nippon, and the
fact that they must he Inscribed to
members of the national government
will he undeniable. Here, then. Is =
polnt on which our owl admin itla-
ton, may need to exercise the most
skilful diplomacy at Its command to
avert troublesome complications.
Less direct ana imme liate, but SSH
capable of causing difficulty, is the
rivalry which seems sure to develop
between Japanese exporters and me-
chants and the business men of tne
ulited States who demand that ".hc
open door shall be kept open in the
far east and that American prodgcts
shall receive fair treatment, in accord
ance with existing International con.
pacts. in Korea and Manchuria. The
former of these regions has been taken
frankly in charge by Japan, In the
latter her power is dominant--and
there are not wanting observers who
believe that eventually she means to
extend both commercial and political
supremacy over the large part OF
China.
In the Japanese mind at least. those
portions of the Asiatic mainland which
lie within reasonable distance of the
island empire furnish natural fields OF
exploitation for trade profit and nation
al agrandizement Already complaints
are coming that the Japanese officials
in Korea and Manchuria are not dis.
posed to accord the rights required |
by treaty to goods sent from the |
United States. These may be exagger
ated. But no occasion for surprise