The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-07
JAPAN RESENTFUL
ABOUT KNOX NOTE
Influential Statesmen Declare
Empire Will Never Relinquish
Manchurian Rights.
LAYS CLAIM TO RAILROADS
AS SP0ILS OF RUSSIAN WAR
Surprised That United States
Should Take Step Indicated
by Communication.

TOXIC, Jan. l0.-The proposition OF
tho United States for the naturalization
of the railroads in Manchuria came
as a surprise, and the publication of de-
tails of the note handed TO the Japa,
nese government on December 10 by the
American ambassador aroused an imme
diate chorus Of disapproval.
Putting aside all questions of the
business or political advisability of the
proposition, sentiment entered most
largely into the attitude Of the peo
pie of Japan, The foreign office, while
admitting that such a note had been
received would give no intimation as to
how it had been or would be treated.
Count T. Hayashi, last minister for
foreign affairs. and the former ambas,
sador TO Great Britain, Count Okuma,
formerly ono Of the most active of
statesmen and every ono whose name
carried any weight whatsoever, were
quoted in tho newspapers in strenuous
objection to giving up what is claimed
to be the harvest OF the war with Rus
sia
"Tens of thousands of our soldiers
died in. Manchuria in tho war with
Russia they said. "We got little
out of the war except what was politi-
cal, The material side is represented
by the South Manchurian railway and
the Antung- -Mukden. The leased ter
ritory and Port Arthur were only re.
covered. These we won ten years be-
fore and lost again by the intrigue of
certain powers when we were n weaker
nation. Now the United States, hith-
srto always our friend. comes into com
bination with other powers and proposes
that we should give up the South Man
churian RAJ lwaY, paying road, and the
Antung. Mukden, the continuation of our
railroads in Korea, to the control of
foreigners and strangers.
Japan Defines Position.
"The reasons assigned for this are
that the principle of The fopen door
and equal opportunity for all nations
doing business in China must be pre-
served. But Japan has entered into sol
emn agreement with the powers Of
America and Europe to preserve the |
integrity of China and TO maintain the
principle of the open door and equal
opportunity in concert with China and |
with all other nations and to this .Ja- |
pan had adhered religously.
In two ways, therefore, the United |
States attacks the honor and sentiment |
OF the people of Japan. Is it any won: |
der that we refuse 10 permit our gov |
ernment even to suggest that the pro.
posal has been received by Japan with |
equanimity9'
This statement practically voices the !
entire expression heard from the public |
in the first forty eight hours after the |
first news Of receipt OF Secretary
Knox's note. But the further senti. |
mani 5NnrnscaI Ihnc.
The riots that followed the making |
of the treaty of Portsmouth would not |
be circumstance TO the trouble that |
would follow the REIMBURSEMENT by ia |
pan of her rights in Manchuria, even
though she received thrice the intrinsic |
yaluc.
Denies Any Discrimination.
So far as can be learned by respon-
sible Investigators there is little or
40 foundation for charges of discrimi-
nation brought against Japan in con
nection with trade in Manchuria The |
ieading business firms of England and |
America are. IN common with the Jap.
anese, suffering from depreciation in |
trade IN this territory, but that depre- |
.iation is due to conditions over which |
neither the Japanese or any other coun-
try has any control.
One thing may he set down as abso
lutely certain, and that is that Japan |
is not going to give mp her right In the |
South Manchuriau railway until these
rights shall be terminated by the lapse |
Of the term for which Japan has con
troll. Japan was given control of the |
South Manehurian railway for thirty |
six years from the signing of the Ports
mouth treaty. The Antung- Mukden
railway will remain in possession of ia.
pan for fifteen years.
There are in Manchuria about 10000 |
Japanese settlers and. since they arc |
within the zone of the railroad, where |
Japan has sphere Of influence, the |
proposed taking over by the powers |
jeopardy,