Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-05

lM eSfeall nant influence in China is
III pal recognized by everybody In
l2sua1s7sl the east. The probable eff
fees of a realization of that desire and
the wisdom of the diplomatic and COM
mercial steps being taken by the Jap
anese at this time are things about
which no two men in the east quite
agree.
Leaving aside the exceptional condi-
tion in Manchuria for future discus
sion, because Japan undoubtedly has
some especial rights in that section, 1t
is an indisputable fact that the Jap
anese have been losing favor and ad-
vantage in China proper. Their busi-
ness methods have not been up to the
Chinese standard, their educational and
political missionaries have outlived
their welcome and their diplomatic re-
1ations have been marked by a series
of blunders and mistakes.
How the diplomacy of the cunning
Japanese sometimes slips cog was
aptly illustrated by the unfortunate
career in Pekihg of Prince Fushimi,
an imperial prince of Japan who was
sent to China as the special envoy of
the mikado to be present at the fu-
neral of the late emperor. Prince Flu
shimi did not stay long in Peklng, but
it was quite long enough to excite the
anger of the Chinese people, of the
Manchu princes, of the foreign diplo-
matte corps and even of the Peking
japanese colony.
AS a special envoy and as a mem
ber of an imperial family. Prince Flu
shimi outranked all the other national
representatives at the imperial funeral.
The Japanese design was to send
man of such rank that he must be
accorded first place, thereby seeking
to impress the Chinese with the notion
that Japan is the greatest and night
est of foreign powers. That part of
the program might have been success
full if it had not been for the enthu-
siasm of Prince Fushimi, who over
reached himself at every turn.
He gave a reception to his fellow
ENJOYS, despite the Chinese idea that
1t was not very polite to come to a
dead emperor's funeral and begin
series of private entertainments. OF
course all the ENJOYS and their suites
attended, expecting to be received on an
equal footing. But it was not to be.
Prince Fushimi was feeling his impe-
rial blood and was fully conscious that
evening of his relationship to the sun.
and moon. He received his guests
standing on a little dais and accepted
their bows as might an emperor in full
court ceremonial. One of the ENJOYS, a
man representing a nation which
knows not princely blood nor recog-
nizes 'divine right" attempted to in
terject sentence of conversation. The
Japanese minister to Peking, who was
acting as master of ceremonies, cut
him off sharply with the command.
Present your suite, Mr.. Minister"
Which was exactly equivalent to II
New York cops" order to ''move on"
That performance brought the anti
Japanese rage of all the diplomatic
corps to the boiling point. But Prince
Fushimi was not content. He issued
invitations to a dinner, and as an inn
perial prince sent cards as a matter of
right to several of the conservative old
Manchu princes. The invitations were
signed by the princes secretary. The
Manchu dignitaries were not accus-
toned to receiving impersonal mes
Sages from private secretaries, and
they let their displeasure be known.
One of them went so far as to return
the invitation without reply. That per-
Torrance aroused the indignation of
the Manchus. The Chinese were Of
Tended by what they considered Prince
emperor's funeral an excuse for his
holding a Japanese imperial court at
their imperial capital. There were 9TH
er incidents of a similar character and
when the prince left Peking there was
a general thanksgiving in which the
japanese colony Joined heartily The
absurdly high-headed prince had made
their position among the other foreign
ers and among the Chinese well nigh
intolerable.
This is only an illustration of how the
Japanese often fail in their efforts to
play the smooth diplomatic game-just
as they brought the immigration ques-
ton in America to a focus five years
ahead of time by raising the San Fran
cisco school question. While the ques-
tions at issue between China and Japan
in Manchuria may be considered COM
plex, it is apparent that japanese diplo-
macy will do anything rather than sub
init to outside interference. The pre-
emptory and almost insulting refusal
of the Japanese to submit certain dis
puted questions to The Hague tribunal
is Indicative of the Toxic attitude to-
ward Chinese claims.
The "Tatsu Maru" affair was another
Illustration of Japanese designs upon
the peace of China, or at any rate of
Japanese Indifference to the govern
mental welfare of its great neighbor;
while the diplomatic blunders resulting