The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-22

fighting for them that comments It. self to no one. In my most recent conversations on the subject with an ex-editor, asked if Japan would pur- chase the Philippines were the United States ready to sell. The reply was that it would be serious problem. The speaker doubted whether the na- ton would care to receive them even as free gift. The result of my yari- ous inquiries on this subject IS the impression that Japan is not only not averse to American ownership Of the Philippines, but prefers to have It so' for thus the United States is brought into responsible relations with the far east and her voice must be heard Tn the councils of the nations regarding Oriental matters.
 What may appear to some as the weak spot in Japan's foreign policy clearly revealing. as they clam, her belligerent aggressiveness. is her re- cent assumption of complete executive control of Korea, deprivng her of her ancient independence which, moreover Japan had agreed to maintain. But the problem was one of immense com plexity. Korea's proved governments al incompetence made her a prey to aggressive nations control by any one of men as a serious menace to her own welfare and possibly even to her existence. Japan has accordingly felt that she mist assume such control of Korea as shall guarantee her own na- tional safety. Whether this action Is justifiabe or not can only be known by the final issue of events. Certain it is that the great powers have ac- ouiesced in the new arrangement. But whether this virtual absorption of Korea can be justified or not on the, broad ground of national preservation it cannot reasonably be regarded as the sole result of a graspng spirit and a generally aggressive purpose.
 On one topic alone have the Japan ese know expressed serious dissatis- faction with American policy, that, namely, of refusing naturalization on racial grounds. This is a sore point They see clearly that in many respects Japanese immigrants are superior to those from Europe. To be refused ad- mittance as laborers and denied rights of naturalization on the ground of be- ing Asiatic privileges freely granted to non-Asiatics, seems to them an ex- pression of race prejudice, an impli- cation of racial inferiority. How this agrees with the undoubted friendship of the United States is hard to see Yet both seem to be facts. What Jap l an asks is equality of treatment with i other nations. Justice and equality l she feels can be the only basis of !, lasting and true friendship.
 So serious a menace to the mutual ! friendship of the two countries has , the stream of anti-Japanese misrep- resentaton and suspicion become, that 1 American missionaries residing in all parts of Japan have drawn up and signed series of resolutions in which they bear testimony to the facts. as they appear to them, in regard to Japans real attitude to America. Since the great majority of these mission- aries speak Japanese readily and since 1 they live and travel in all parts of the land. they are peculiarly fitted to testl- i fy as to the feelings of the nation.
 In quoting these resolutions, I wish to disclaim ascription to them of the various sentiments expressed above The resolutions mean what they say and only what they say; but since re- gard them as furnishing invaluable i testimony to the general contention Of this article, namely that Japan's real attitude to America Is friendly, l | quote them:
 1 While we, as missionaries, have ro- thing to do with the questions of na- i tional economies or international poli- tics, yet in matters affecting the mu- tual good will of nations we. IS mes sengers of Gods universal fatherioo and mans universal brotherh ool, are peculiarly interested, and, as Ameri- can citizens now residing in Japan, we
 feel bound to do all that is in our power to remove misunderstanding and suspicion which are tending to iI- terrupt the long,standing friendship between this nation and our own.
 Hence, we, the undersigned, wish to
 bear testimony to the sobriety, sense of international justice and freedom
 from aggressive designs exhibited hy the great majority of the Japanese
 people, and to their faith in the 'ralir
 tional justice and equity of the United
 States. Moreover, we desire to place
 on record our profound appreciation
 of the kind treatment which we ex-
 perience at the hands of both govern
 ment and people: our belief that the
 alleged "belligerent" attitude of the
 Japanese does not represent the real
 sentiments of the nation; and our ar
 dent hope that local and spasmodic
 misunderstanding may not be allow
 ed to affect in the slightest degree the
 natural and historic friendship of the
 two neghbors on opposite sides of the
 Pacific.