The Washington times., 1908-12-13
I. M. c. A. Worker in Japan
Contrasts Receptions Given
the Two Fleets.
SAYS FRIENDSHIP
is ALL GENUINE
Praises Yankee Sailor Ashore and
Blames Correspondents for
War Talk.

George S. Phelps, secretary Of the
National Council of the Young Mems
Christian Association in Japan, this
morning told a Times reporter the ef-
feet upon affairs in the Far East Of
the visit Of the American feet to Japan.
Mr.. Phelps left Yokohama few days
after the official reception to the feet.
His Impressions throw new light upon
the Orientals' attitude toward the visit
Those OF us who saw the ovation
given the British squadron which WIS.,
tied Japan after the consummatIon Of
the English-Ja Japanese alliance" said
Mr.. Phelps, were peculiarly impressed
by the even greater enthusiasm with
which the American feet was received.
Ii was proof that the unwritten alliance
with America stands almost in the
same category with the more formal
alliance with Great Britain. The jap
anese left no stone unturned to ex-
press their deep, abiding friendship
with us. Pageants were organized;
demonstrations Of popular enthusiasm
such as are seldom seen even in that
land Of demonstration For instance,
the reception committee organized a
huge lantern procession, selecting about
1900 men to carry t out Not satisfied
with that, thousands Of citizens. on
their own accord, Joined in the process
slon' each carrying Japanese lantern
OF brilliant color.
More than one thousand japanese
school children greeted our sailors in
TOKYO by singing the American national
anthem in English.
Y. M. c. A. IN Evidence.
The japanese Y. NJ. c. A. plaved 4
large part in the celebration. The Navy
Department asked the Japanese Y. NJ.
L A TO provide guides and interpre-
ters and take complete charge Of that
most important feature OF the recep-
non The association pitched their
rents on the bUnd, where the sailors
landed, and at railway stations and
other places where the guests must
necessarily congregate. More than two
hundred students of the government
schools Of Tokyo and Yokohama Ceach
bearing the letters, Y. VI. c. A. on a
sleeve band) served as guides. The
association also had information bu-
reaus and conducted religious meet
ings for the benefit of the men,
There has never been a time when
the japanese people, even the war
party. ever considered for a minute the
serious possibility OF war with America
Neither has there been any evidence
whatever that there is any feeling OF
hostility 20 America on account Of the
expulsion Of japanese children from the
san Francisco schools. The Japanese
arc peculiarly sensitive to anything
that pertains to the welfare Of chill
dren; but even the rude shock which
the san Francisco problem gave to the
Japanese people has been qualified by
the conviction that the unfortunate In
cident was due to the disturbed state
OF san Francisco politics. and in no
wise represented the feeling Of the
American people. The action OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt in quickly disavowing
the incident was a balm to the feelings
Of the Japanese nation"
Mr.. Phelps spoke with considerable
severity Of the American cOrrespon-
dents. whom he seemed 20 think were
entirely responsible for the war scare.
He said:
To those who have lived IN the East
for some time that agitation seems
amazingly uncalled for; It seems TO US
inconceivable that the American people
could take seriously the rawlings Of
few misguided correspondents Of some
OF the leading newspapers I have no
hesitation in saying that the visit OF
the fleet to Yokohama, considered from
the standpoint of international rela-
tions, diplomacy, and trade relations,
was one OF the few striking events
that have ever occurred IN the Far
East"