The Washington times., 1908-02-02
JAPANESE HATRED
Of AMERICA SEEN
BY KUROPATKIN
ProteStations of Friendship
Cloak to Hostility, Rus
sian General Declares.
bnumerates Grievances Nip
pom Cherishes Against
United States.

BERLIN, Feb. Her NJ. Ronsner,
professor Of international law, has fur
hished The Times correspondent with
fhe following extracts from letter re-
.teived from General KuropatkIn, for
amer minister OF war in Russia.
I am following with special atten-
zion the Japanese-American diplomatic
relations. 1 am able TO do so now after
certain experiences and away from my
fof1cial position. The Japanese-Ameri-
lean relation is at the present time Just
equal to ours previous 10 the war. The
tAmericans themselves might not be
lahle TO conceive it as deeply as an ex-
Eper1eRced- forei gner, therefore I wish 10
lgive you certain facts.
The psychology Of the Japanese Is
the reverse OF ours and Of the Aneri-
cans. 1t is very important to know
mat TACT When Jap says to you he
likes you ana Is your intimate friend
II IS not true. The Japanese are me
most sly nation ever can imagine. and
you ought TO take in dealing with a Ian
just the reverse what he assures Won
such IS the behavior of our merchants
IN the East dealing with the japanese
business men and that should be con-
-sldered also in the politics and great
national affairs. I will show the facts.
Japs Protested Friendship,
Several years before our war with
Japan there could be noticed q hidden
hostility toward the Russians. but I'VE
did not pay any attention to il. The
hidden hostility was intensified. and the
japanese government and newspapers
began to announce that Russia was
their best friend. and that there could
never be any trouble between them.
we believed these supposedly sincere as
surances, and suppressed all utterances
IN regard TO the japanese politics. But
mat was great mistake, and the cause
OF our failure
After the Boxer rebellion in China
our government occupied Manchuria. !
and displayed a great influence IN the
Far East 1 could notice the change 1
Of attitude toward Us. Of which 7 made /
a long report 10 the Gar II was a 1
very peculiar position. and the Car /
recommended me 10 make q tour /
through Japan and Far East I was /
received with great friendship and
new assurances by the MiEado and his /
people that pacific relations between /
Japan and Russia never had been as I
strong as then.
Il returned from my trip home and (
pacifed all excited elements, but while /
idoing this officially I had an intuitive |
feeling that there was a trick back of 1
all this cordial Japanese assurance. /
but 7 could not express officially my
personal opinion. Another point was I
that / could not see a sufficient cause /,
for war, because we kept strictly with
in our obligations. and the private
affairs in Korea, which seemed to ex-
rcite some Japanese business interests.
.Nvere so insignificant for a political /
Srouble that did not pay them any at
tentiOn.
THE japanese government and news
papers continued to be our greatest
friends until the very moment war
was declared.
Looking at the American situation
I notice the repetition of the japanese
diplomatic game before its war with us
The japanese government is hastily
squipping its strategic operations. Who
might be its enemy else than the United .
States. who from the japanese view
might be meance for their policies I'm
China and Korea? They wish to act in
hependently IN Asia and fear political /
control by the United States
Japan Has Grievances.
Japan has also a certain feeling OF
revenge toward the United States because
after the Chinese war and Boxer rebel
lion they acted against the interests Of
Japan.
Furthermore, they think that the
United States urged them TO make a
peace with Russia, for which they id
not get such a heavy indemnity as they
expected to get after few more vie
tories. The immigration trouble is anu
will be merely an artificial preference
20 incite hostility.
THE Americans. according TO my
opinion. ought to be more cautious than
they are and take into consideration
that they have to deal with a very
strong and serious enemy. The Amer
ican navy is equipped very perfect1-.
but on my view it is not sufficient to
beat Japan. In the second place, Amer
ica is trusting tee much to the pacific
assurances Of the Japanese government
and press. Whoever thinks In America
that a war between the United States
and Japan is absurd is very much mis-