The San Francisco call., 1909-05-30
america and the
Far Eastern Question"
By Thomas =. MIiard, author OF The New
Far East Published by Monat Yard &
Co., New York. Price 81

By Thomas =. Millard. author OF The New
Far East Published by Mofat. Yard s
Co.. New York. Price 81
Thomas F. Millard. the author Of
The New Far East has spent much
OF the last 10 years in that part of
the world and has paid the closest pos
sible attention to the political condi-
tions He feels that the problem OF
the eastern question is the most Sc
rious one which the nations of the
world will be called upon to handle
in the twentieth century He lays
: great stress upon the relation of that
part of the world with the United
States and tells how wes may be af-
fected by the outcome OF the problem.
The author IS frankly anti-Japanese,
but in no smallest degree can he be
considered conclusively so. Every
statement he makes is given with the
utmost caution and no bitterness is
shown. In the introduction the author
says:
Il expect that some persons will pro-
fess to find in this, many did OF my
previous work. an anti-Japanese
preachment This 1t Is not in the sense
that desire to inju<e Japan is among
its objects I wish the Japanese nation
and people success in aspirations which
do not tend to cause International dis
sension and strife by impairing inter-
ests OF other nations. That the present
policy of Japan has this tendency Is
conclusion / have reached after closely
observing its trend for several years,
and from studying it's practical effects
IN localities where ii is directly applied
Having formed this opinion l express
1t without hesitation and endeavor 70
present facts and conditions upon
which IL is founded. To those who may
tnink that In considering the activities
of modern Japan I dwell on unfavoranie
phrases and ignore favorable ones L
will saw that IL is with the more sig
nifcant aspects of Japan's policy tnat
this discussion attempts TO DEAL ana
that admirable traits of Japanese char
acter are not often mentioned does not
mean that I am ignorant OF them
.sThese characteristics are in a large
sense common TO all peoples
Moreover. favorable aspects OF Japan
have been presented by a tnousaha
writers In juxtaposition with what
I consider to be disturbing and PROP
ably unattainable ambitions OF mil
liant Japanese statesmen, 1 have trieo
to show counterbalancing interests
an, forces which are involved. To the
extent that I have approached the
subject. especially from the point or
view OF the interest OF the United
states OF America. and in this oniy'
the discussion is partisan.
The one point which Caiilor hla ans ans
will search for first will be the
authors opinions on the school anu
Immigration questions. In the hftn
chapter. America and Japan" very
clear statement of the whole case Is
made. While much too long and TOO
detailed to quote, the conclusion at
which the author arrives and which
seems the only reasonable one as eN-
planned by him. is that the senool ana
immigration troubles of 1867 were
deliberately plahned by Japan to dis
tract the attention OF Washington
from her policy in Korea and Man
churia Japan's attitude toward Korea
was creating much dissatisfaction IN
Diplomatic circles all over the world,
and until she could carry through her
negotiations with France and RUSSIA
she wished TO attract no attention
The scheme worked nicely. for Wash
ington was kept misinformed as 70
the real state of affairs and Japan stliI
laughs in her sleeve at US Generai
Luke Wright's position is here COM
mented upon and his very disagree
able experiences at this time mem
toned. japan was constantly harry
ing his office with complaints as TO
the treatment of the Japanese in Amer
lea and she was at the same time ex-
ercising power exactly parallel in prac-
,tice and principle to actions of the
United States TO which she was OBJ
NrrrlM
several hundred Chinese were arbitra-
rily deported from Nagasaki. The
Chinese minister at Tokyo protested.
pointing out that such action was con-
trary to the spirit of the treaty be-
tween Japan and China. The Japan
ese government took refuge behind
the clause of the imperial ordinance
which gives TO local governors power
To exercise discretion in such matters
and said that 1t could not interfere.
And this occurred at time when the
Japanese press was insisting that the
Washington government coerce Cali
fornia by compelling conformation to
alleged treaty rights which did not
exist
The author explains comprehensively
the position OF the United States in
the Pacific ocean and conclusively DEM
onstrates that Americas position en-
titles her to assume the present leader
ship in shaping the course OF events
in the far east.
The author regards Manchuria as the
same danger spot in the far east which
the Balkan states are to Europe and
he says that self-interest will some
time compel this country to take an
active part in regulating the affairs
OF the far east There are chapters
ON Korea. China. Russia and eastern
Asia and much space is devoted to the
Philippines. An exceedingly interest," =
ing appendix contains copies of the
various treaties and conventions be-
tween Japan and Russia. Japan and
China as relating to Manchuria. the
secret protocols to the Peking treaty,
Anglo-Japanese and Franco-Japanese