Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-11
JAPAN AND UNCLE SAM.
In Dispute Over Railroad In Man.
churia.

In Dispute Over Railroad In Man
ehuria.
The proposition Of the United State.
for the naturalization Of the railroads
in Manchuria, says Toxic letter, cam,
as a surprise and the publication o.
the details Of the note, which wa.
handed to the Japanese government
December 1S, by the American ambas.
sador, aroused an immediate chorus oi
disapproval.
Putting aside all question Of the
business Of political advisability Of the
proposition, sentiment entered largely
into the attitude Of the people Of ia
pan. The foreign Office, which admit
ting that such a note had been re-
ceived, would give no intimation as tc
how It had been or would be treated.
Count T. Hayashi, the last minister
of foreign affairs and former ambas-
sador to Great Britain; Count Okuma
formerly one Of the most active Of
statesmen, and everyone whose name
carries any weight whatsoever, were
quoted in the newspapers in strenu-
Gus objection to giving up what Is
claimed to be the harvest of the wal
with Russia
ITEMS Of thousands Of our soldiers
died in Manchuria in the war with
Russia" they said. I'VE got little GU,
Of the war except what was political
The material side is represented by
the South Manchurian railway and the
Antung- Mukden. The leased territory
and Port Arthur were only recovered
These we won ten years before and
lost again by the intrigue of certain
powers when we were a weaker ma
ton. Now the United States, hither-
to always our friend, comes into COM
bination with other powers and pro-
poses that We should give up the
South Manchurian railroad, a paying
road, and the Antung- Mukden, the con-
tinuation Of our railroads in Korea to
the control Of foreigners and strangers
1.-The reasons assigned for this are
that the principle Of the open door
and equal opportunity for all nations
doing business in China must be pre-
served. But Japan has entered into
solemn 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 ia
pan has adhered religiously.
"In two ways, therefore, the United
States attacks the honor and senti-
ment of the people Of japan. Is 1t any
wonder that we refuse to permit our
government even to suggest that the
proposal has been received by Japan
with equanimity?"
This statement practically voiced the
entire expression heard from the pub
lie during the first forty-eight hours
after the news of the receipt Of Secre-
tary Knox's note. But the further sem
timent was expressed thus:
1.-The riot that followed the making
Of the treaty of Portsmouth would not
be a circumstance to the trouble that
would follow the REIMBURSEMENT by ia
pan Of her rights in Manchuria, even
though she received twice the intrinsic
value"
So far as can be learned by respon-
sible investigators, there is little or no
foundation for the charges of discrim-
ination brought against japan in con-
nection with trade in Manchuria. The
leading business firms Of England and
America are, in common with the ia
panese, suffering from a depression in
the trade in this territory, but that
depreciation Is due to conditions over
which neither the Japanese nor any
other country, for the present, has any
control.
One thing may be set down as alb
solutely certain, and that Is that Jap
an is not going to give up her right In
The South Manchurian railway until
those rights shall be terminated by the
lapse Of the term for which Japan mas
control. Japan was given control of
the South Manchurian railway for a
period of thirty-six years from the
signing of the Portsmouth treaty. The
Antung- -Mukden railway will remain
in possession of Japan for fourteen
years.
There are now in Manchuria about
thirty thousand Japanese settlers, and
since they are within the zone Of the
road where Japan has a sphere of in
fluence, the proposed taking over by
the powers would place the interests
Of these in jeopardy.