New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-17
OUR FLEET IN JAPAN.

Our fleet to-day becomes the guest Of Japan
On its long voyage it has enjoyed the gracious
and doubtless sincere, hospitality of various
other nations. but nowhere has the welcome
been more gracious or more sincere than we
have ample reason to expect it to be in Japan.
Historically sentmentally, scientifically and
politically japanese interest in our fleet is very
great. The Japanese want TO see the successor
of that former American feet which opened
their secluded island empire to the world and
heralded the dawn of a new era. They want to
see the fleet Of that nation which has IN a pc
Cuar sense been their sponsor ana next
friend" among the powers. They want to COM
pare with their own ships this newest navy OF
the power from which they themselves learned
the art of modern naval construction and mari
time warfare. They want to see the represen-
tatves of She navy which has and expects to re
tain dominant sea power the Pacific Ocean.
Without offence it may be surmlsed mat THIS
last consideration is the strongest Of ALL and
that the logical converse Of ii IS foremost in the
minds Of the officers and men of our own fleet
The fact is not to be ignored nor minimiZed,
but Is TO be frankly recognized, that Japan and
America are and are likely to remain for long
time the chief-we might say the only tmpor-
tant-navaI powers in the Pacific 1t Is natural
therefore that each should be curious to meas
ure in friendly observation the potency Of the
other The result Will be an increase or mutual
good understanding and esteem. The Japanese
Emperor's rescrpt emulates the frequent ut
terances of the American President in the
earnest desire for lasting peace among all ma
tons and there is reason to expect that what
the japanese have courteously called Amer
lean week." if it does not, as some extra-en-
thusiastc Japanese are saying, mark new era
in the relations of the two powers, Will at least
mark q gratifying confirmation of the cordial
relationship which for half century has
listed between them, and will put final end to
the iniudiclous hints Of friction and conflict
which have been internationally put forth.
One feature of the case must be regarded
conveying a unique tribute TO the unique posi-
ton which the United States occupies among
it's neighbors. That is, that our fleet has been
welcomed with equal enthusiasm and equal sin
cerity in Australia and in Japan. For the great
southern commonwealth though a colony Of
that United Kingdom which is Japans ally, is
perbaps Of all lands most inclined to fear, to
resent or at any rate to take precautionary
measures against Japan's rise to dominance III
the Pacific The fleets welcome there was not
affected by the knowledge that ii would soon be
similarly greeted in Japan nor is the welcome
which il is now receiving lesSened III cordlallF
by the knowledge that it was recently the
favored guest of a nation which is antagonistc
to Japan In that circumstance is TO be per
cefved one of the finest practical applications
Of the rule that this nation is to have entangn"
alliances with no others but is to cultivate
honest friendship with all. We have only to
consider how different might he the reception
of our fleet by some countries. if were in al
lance with some power or powers 10 appreciate
the great benefit Of being entirely free from
such entanglements.