The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-11-16
BY s. HAsEeA.


It is an ancient truism that "out
of the mouths of diplomats come
words, but from the hearts of the
people come truths" j preface my
reference to the subject on which
I have been requested to writei with
this quotation, in connection with
the present visit of the American
fleet to Japanese waters. and it is
my sincere hope that the people OF
great America will inquire Of their
brave sailors when they return
home as to how the people Of Japan
received them Heed not the words
of greeting which were exchanged
between the high officers of the
fleet and the representatives of the
Japanese government. while though
/ know they were sincerely spoken,
yet soft words would have been ex-
changed though both nations were
about to spring at each others
Threats. Such is diplomacy. But
the smiles on the faces of our peo-
pie, the, cheers which greeted your
sailors, came from the heatr of
Japan. We have jingoes in Japan
as you have In America. We have
political intriguers In Japan who
are not friendly to-America as you
have politicians in America who
are not friendly to Japan. But their
numbers are few. They are danger
Gus to both countries, because, as
we say in Japan. "a dog may fool
ishly bay at the moon, but thou
sands OF dogs hearing his cry lift
up their noisy clamor. until great
fear is carried unto men,"
So 1t is in thesstrained relations
between America, and Japan, be-
cause there is no denying that sus-
picion has existed BETWEEN the two
people Twill speah frankly on the
attitude Of Japan toward the Amer
lean occupation of the Philippine
islands.
While America continues her oc-
cupation of the islands Japan will
rest content, knowing that America
Is not an aggressive nation. But
Japan would look upon the sale OF
the islands to any other power as
an unfriendly act, and would take
recourse to arms to prevent any
European power from gaining pos
session OF the islands. Ii at any
time America wishes to withdraw
from the Philippines, Japan will be
ready to open negotiations for their
purchase.
Such is our attitude toward the
Philippines, briefly told.
Japan's policy in the east is as
the Monroe doctrine OF America in
the west.
The Philippine islands came into
the possession of America before
Japan was in position to adopt a
strong policy for the protection OF
our zone OF influence, and we are
happy in the Thought that the
islands did not fall into the hands
of an European nation with colonial
ambitions.
Japan is accused of intriguing
against the integrity of the Chinese
empire. This is not true. lndivid-
ual Japanese have been guilty of
questionable enterprises in the sell
ing of arms to Chinese rebels. but
so have many individual Germans
and Englishmen.
Japan wishes to preserve the in
tegrity of China, as any disintegra-
ton OF the empire would lead to
European aggressions which would
become menace to Papan. The
Tatsu Maru was without question
loaded with arms intended for the
revolutionists In China, and were
sold by Japanese firm in Osaka
to a Dutch firm In Batavia,
The firm attitude assumed by the
Japanese government was owing to
the fact that the ship was captured
by the Chinese government on the
high seas and not within Chinese
waters. and without investigation
the Japanese flag was hauled down
and the ship taken as n prize into a