Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-31
PREDICTS WAR.

The most remarkable prediction OF a
coming conflict between this country
and japan is that credited to Senior
| Paul Soler councillor of the Spanish
embassy at Rome. 1t IS remarkable
| because the author OF 1t is a diplomat
who very well knows the Importance of
| public expressions OF that nature, and
also because of his familiarity with
| conditions both in this country and
Japan. Senior Soler was formerly u,
under secretary of the Spanish legation
ut Washington. and later spent sew
eral years as an attache of the lega-
ton at Toxic. 1t would not be sur
prising to learn of his recall from
Rome by his government. for indis-
Greet language concerning friendly
powers
According to this employee of tn,
Spanish embassy in Rome. war be-
tween Japan and the United States is
certain TO come, and Japan will win.
THE japanese" he says. with their
customary insincerlty, are trying TO de-
celve the Americans. and the latter, in
their turn either wish To deceive them
selves or to conceal their beliefs from
the world" He argues that, when the
Californians. with their prejudices, feel
secure under the protection of the pow
erful deet now on its way to the Pa
clfic. the anti-Japanese sentiment may
reach such proportions that the Japan
csc government will feel unable to re-
strain the war spirit. Japan, he says
has already anticipated that develop
ment. and is preparing for war.
The real casus belli, Senior Soler
races to the Portsmouth peace treaty
The Japanese are convinced that this
country prevented them from gathering
the fruits of the victories over Russia
| He says:
at is also notorious that the presi-
dent of the Japanese delegation sent 10
| Portsmouth to negotiate the terms of
peace In replying to friends ques-
| ton NJ the conclusion of the prelimin-
| airy arrangements said with a smile
! Certainly this treaty of peace does not
| even allow Japan what IS required
cover our war expenses; but, never
mind; sooner or later somebody else
viii pay our expenses with accumulat-
ed interest"
Senior soler. finally. believes tina
Japan would be victorious over thi
country. He thinks her naval COM
m0nders would sweep our ships from
the sea because her feet is one of the
best, manned by crews filled with en-
thusiasm and excelently trained, UNI
der officers inspired by glorious deeds
recently achieved. The fleet disposed
Of. 1t would says the Spanish pro-
phet of evil. be an easy task for the
Japanese to occupy the Philippines, and
oven to land 100000 men In California
America, he argues, cannot avail itself
OF strong regular army and the Jap
anese believe that all these things be-
ing considered, they could extract from
the rich Americans heavy indemnity
as the price Of withdrawal from the
United states.
We hope our Spanish friend Is mis-
taken. Still. it would be folly to for
get that he has, perhaps, given public
expression to a more or less general
sentiment in foreign diplomatic cir
Giles. indlscreet though his talk may
be. II would be folly to- forget that
| diplomats have sources OF information
TO which the public has no access. II
should be remembered that for years
before the outbreak OF the war with
Russia rumors predicted that It would
come, and some Of the rumors wers
traced 20 veil informed members OF
European embassies, Russia neglected
to prepare herself for the struggle. se-
cure In the belief that Japan would
not dare TO attempt an attack RUS
sia paid dearly for her Indifference,
Her experience should not be lost upon.
/ LhL. ...nLLt ~.