Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-02
TWO VIEWS.

/
TWO VIEWS.
| Congressman Hohsou Is still prophecy
Ing evil He claims that japan IS pre-
pairing for an attack upon tho United
Suites He says Japan is planning dis
| turbances In China next year as pre-
li:uinaty to war with us, but, he OBJ
serves. How long II will take Japan to
get her pretext and force war upon us
cannot now be foretold." on another
| point, however. ne has no hesitation.
| To offset he says the possible increase
| Of our navy by two large battleships
authorized by the last Congress, Japan
| has now ordered two more dread
| naughts" In addition to those already
| building, one of the new ones to be
buIt at Fairchllds IN England. the
other 10 be built IN Japan, both OF
which VIII be completed before ours,
and Japan's stupendous preparations
for war continue with feverish activity.
Captain Hobson Is absolutely certain
that war with Japan win be forced up
this as he was that the sinking OF the
Merrimac would bottle up the Spanish
ships in the harbor Of Santiago. He
states that he has been diligent and
scrupulously careful in gathering facts.
II task made difficult by Japanese So
cretivoness. and that he has only
drawn the conclusion warranted by the
facts stating these conclusions without
minoing words, as duty dictates they
should he stated, But what the facts
really are, the public is left to surmise.
He says
After the successful war with Rus
STA, when every source Of aggression
has been removed. far away, with no
possible chance Of aggression on the
sea, we behold Japan making stupen-
dous, hurried preparations for war ma
val, military and diplomatic prepare
lions designed to gain control of the
sea, which viii be the vital question IN
case OF war with America, and when
these preparations are far advanced
We behold the Japanese press stirring
up the Japanese masses to animosity
against America, we behold the allied
press of Europe justifylug Japan in I'M
dertaldng serious measures for re-
dress against America. and when the
slightest opening occurs however, I'M
justidable. however trivial, compared
with the wide openings FOR closing SIM
liar redress from the British, we be-
hold Japan issuing an ultimatum to
Americas that requires ab1ect humilia-
ton or rupture"
1t IS rather strange that these state
ments are not corroborated from Off
cial sources. If Japan is preparing an
attack upon this country, our govern
ment ought to be informed thereof, and
be able to give the public, officially, the
sources nf Information. Captain Hob
son Is not authority Our ambassador,
Luke Wright. who returned from japan
last September said:
1.-THE talk of war between this coun-
try and Japan isn't even respectable
nonsense. There Is no situation be-
tween Japan and the United States 9TH
err than the very pleasant and friendly
relation which has always existed.
Japan no more wants war with us than
we want one with her. and the idea
that there Is an impending conflict be-
tween the two countries Is ridiculous.
Japan regards us as her best friend,
and there Is a perfect understanding
between the two countries"
This is also the testimony Of mission
aries who live in Japan and feel tho
sentiment of the people. Some Of them
have sent u message to the people of
the United States, in which they say:
while we as missionaries, have
nothing TO do with questions of nation
"a nF N
yet In matters affecting the mutual
goodwill Of nations. we, as messengers
OF Gods universal Fatherhood and
mans universal Brotherhood, are pecu-
liarly Interested; and, as Americans
now residing in Japan, we feel bound
to do all that Is in our power TO remove
Notwithstanding and suspicious
which are tending 10 interrupt the long
standing friendship between this nation
and our own. Hence, we wish to bear
testimony TO the sobrlety, sense OF In
ternational justice, aud freedom from
aggressive designs exhibited by the
great majority of the Japanese people
and 20 their faith in the traditional
Justice and equity OF the United States.
Moreover. we desire to place on record
our profound appreciation of the kind
treatment which we experience at the
hands of both government and people;
our belief that the alleged 'helligercnt
attitude of the Japanese does not
represent the real sentiments of the ma
tlon and our ardent hope that local
ana spasmodic Misunderstanding may
not be allowed to affect In the slight
est degrec the natural and historic
friendship Of the two neighbors on OPP
poslte sides of the Pacific
This document was signed by a hum
drod men, some Of whom have lived in
Japan for twenty-five years
II Captain Hobson has any official in
formation to the contrary, II is his duty
10 give it 90 the public. since he insists
on talking and writing about Japans
war Intentions In the absence OF such
information his accusations can be
productive only Of harm.