Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-20
O'Brien Says Talk
Of Hostilities Is Sheer
Nonsense
NIPpoNEsE DON'T WANT ROW
Not Seeking War With American or
Any Nation-o'Brien Regrets Hob
sons Speech in Congress and !"
Denver-Japs Not Going Around
With Chip on Shoulders.

Chicago, July 20.--"Sheer nonsense
were the two words in which Thomas
]. O'Brien. American ambassador to
japan. Yesterday summarized his views
on the talk of war between this coun-
try and that of the mikado. He reiter-
ated the same two words as epitomz-
ing his opinion of the speech of Cap
tain Richmond Pearson Hobson before
the resolutions committee of the demo-
cratic national convention, in which
the hero of the Merrimac incident
forecasted a dire and deadful conflict
between Americans and the little
brown men of the land of the chrys-
anthemum.
But Mr.. OBrien. who has been am
bassador for the last year and who has
given close and detailed study to Jap
anese conditions and to japanese feel
ing, differed entirely from Captain
Hobson. He also differed from the
rank and file Of theorists who declare
that war must come sooner or later
between America and Japan - and
probably sooner
In Mr.. O'Brien's opinion there is no
more chance of war between America
and Japan than there is between AM
erica and any other country on the
map. The ambitions of the Japanese,
Mr.. O'Brien concludes from his obser-
vations in the land of Nippon, are
commercial rather than military.
The ambassador reached Chicago at
noon yesterday by the overland limited
from San Francisco. He left Japan on
June 30 Last night he went to his
home in Grand Rapids, Mich. He
comes to this country on private bus
mess only.
Sheer nonsense is what I should
term this palaver about war between
Japan and America" said Mr. O'Brien.
What would you call Captain
Hobson's speech before the resolutions
at Denver?" asked the in
terviewer.
Il should call that sheer nonsense.
100, Sdlu lue dillbdSSdNOl Will q
smile
No Chip on Shoulder.
ut is a matter of sober fact that the
Japanese, as far as one can learn by
close observation and by being brought
in contact with their leading men, are
not inclined toward war at all. They
do not want war either with the I'm
tied States or with anyone else. The
picture of Japan as ood-th1rsty
nation, it's head on fire with the lust
of conquest and with very large chip
on it's shoulder. is quite absurd. Japan
is looking forward to a future of COM
greatness above all else. Her
ewes are not fixed upon war, conquest
and bloodshed. Japan wants to be
great commercial country a great
country and wealthy
country. She is seeking to extend her
markets wherever possible, to Increase
the scope of her manufactures, to open
up new markets and to add to her
marine.
IT find in Japan a sense of surprise
over the talk of the possibility of war
of which our newspapers We're so full
some time ago. In Japan Americans
are popular in the extreme. Japan re-
CARDS us as her most important GUS
toner ant 4ht suntry as the one with
which, above all, she must maintain
friendly and close relations. We take
about half of her exports today and are
by far her largest customer. She also
buys quantities of material from u.s.
The money which Americans pour into
japan each year for Japanese goods,
silks, is of much Importance
to the islands. Japan appears to have
no intention Of doing anything to in
terrupt the course of trade and the
of friendship between her
self and America.
ST really think that Americans are
fully as popular with the Japanese as
are the English. if not more SO.
Like Things American.
"And this despite the fact that Eng
land has an alliance with Japan. But
the Japanese seem to have deep lik-
ing for America and for things Ameri-
can, altho there is regret over our ex-
clusion policy. The genius of the
American people seems to appeal to the
Japanese. A very significant thing is
the large numbers of Japanese students
who are sent here every year.
"The students that Japan sends to
America are the men who are going
to do things. The men in Japan at
present who are doing things, who are
having a great influence on the gov
eminent, are men who have been edu
Gated in the United States. The uni
versities of America send back to
Japan large proportion of her doors,
her men of action. This will. If con-
ditions continue as they are. become in
true in years to come.
'"The consequence will be that ulti
mately the men who really govern ia
PAM the men who are of prime impor-
lance in the handling of the affairs of
the nation, will be men of American
The Importance Of such a
state of affairs cannot be overesti-
mated, for 1t is noticeable that men
who go back to japan after having