The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-15
IAPAN'S RISE HAS
CAUSED BIG NAVY
This Statement of Okurna's
Started Revival of amt"
Propaganda m e r can
Merchants Regret Exceed
ingly the Strained Rela-
tons That May Result.
By Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
Toxic Aug. 14.-Special dispatches
from London and printed in Japanese
newspapers report that the recent ut
terance of Count Okuma, attributing
the naval expansion policy of the
United States to the sudden rise OF
Japan to the importance of world
power is araIsing intense Indignation
and mas caused a complete recrudes-
cence of anti7Japanese sentiment
throughout America.
The New York newspapers are
quoted as editorially urging an Amer
ican-Chinese alliance for the purpose
of settling the belligerance of the
Japanese. One newspaper is quoted
as giving the views of WI Ting Fang,
Chinese minister 10 the United States
on the subject of an alliance in which
he threatens Japan with an early evil
dence of the real power of the Ameri-
can navy.
Americans Indignant.
Americans residing in Japan are ex,
tremely indignant They believe that
the special dispatches exaggerate the
tone of the New York newspapers,
and it is felt that it is particularly
unfortunate that at this time anything
should be permitted to retard the in
creasing friendly relations of the two
nations in view of the elaborate ar
rangements on foot among the Japan
csc TO welcome the American feet
and the growing cordiality exhibited
on all sides towards Americans. AM
erican business men especially regret
the publications because the revival
of the anti-Japaneses propaganda IN
America will, they fear, undoubtedly
AFFORD qualification to the competing
countries represented here and also
seriously damage American trade
Count Okuma's FIRE fuent utterances
do not create a ripple here and his
most recent speech was passed quite
unnouced by foreigners until the spe-
Gals announced the outcry of the
American newspapers. Even among
Japanese statesmen and newspapers
the first expression then was enc OF
Amusement
Count Okuma is regarded here as
DOctrainiare politician who is now
completely without political influence
except in academic circles. His state
ment concerning the American navy
and President Roosevelts advocacy
of its expansion was undoubtedly
brought cut by reports of Congress
man HobSon's speech in the Demo-
cratic national convention when lie
quoted President Roosevelt as predict
ing an early war with Japan.
The Cause.
The statement which has caused all
the comment was an excerpt from
series OF articles printed in the ROchi,
Toxic paper which arc being writ
ten by Count Okuma reviewing world
politics and printed from day 10 dly.
W hen Count Okuma returned today
from the country he said to the As
sociated Press he was surprised to
md that his UtteTances had been con-
sidered purposely offensive.
1t was only natural" said ae. in
reviewing the worlds politics to point
out that Japan's rise above the hori-
ION had caused the American navy
70 turn its attention towards the Pa
cifc. Ii is undoubtedly true that
some Americans talk unwiSely con-
corning Japan, bat never for an in
slant have | desired or intended TO
reflect on the honor and courage of
the American navy or its sailors; but
II is an uncontrovertible fact that
commercial considerations weigh ma
terially with all older commercial
nations even when il becomes qces-
ton of war, No one will endeavor
more earnestly than myself TO cult
vate cordial relations with America
because l realize that only tnrough
such cordial relations can Japan hope
10 become a really great nation"
In an article published in the Rochi
August II. Count Okuma attributed
the present naval expansion policy
of the United States to the sudden
rise of Japan to the Importance of
world power, saying in part;
Judging from the fragmentary
speeches OF President Roosevelt that
have been transmitted here il is not
difficult to infer that the augmenta-
ton of the United States navy in the
Pacific is directed at Japan"
Count Okuma expressed q doubt,
however, that the views and ideas CT
President Roosevelt would long con-
tinue TO govern public opinion in