Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1911-01-03
NO FOUNDATION APPARENT ?
japanese Ambassador Still In Washing
tOu-C0ntinued Peace Possible
f1obson's Views Endorsed By
ARMY Officers

1t is considered that the United
/ States would be an extremely lucky
\ nation if it did not have trouble
| of a serious nature with the Japa-
nese before the canal is opened.
1t is regarded by some that the com
ing treaty which must be negotiated
| between this country and Japan to
take the place of the Gresham
Kurino treaty of 1894 will be the
matter which would bring things to
| a crisis.
This treaty went into operation
July 17,1S99, and by its own terms
remains in force until July II,
1911. Either of the high contractin g
parties has the right at any time
thereafter to give notice to the other
of its intention to terminate the
treaty, and twelve months later the
! treaty ceases.
In speaking at the time this report
was made, when its nature caused
general discussion in army circles as
to the probability of war with Japan.
a we'll known army authority, who
would, of course, not make state
ent of the kind for publication, de
clared that he would be agreeably
surprised if this.country did not clash
with japan before the completion
of the Panama Canal.
He further thinks that japan has
been preparing since the Russo-Japa-
nese War to place itself in a posi-
tion where it can make demand and
enforce it. He thinks Japan is in
that position now. and says that
most army officers, while they, of
course, can say nothing openly. pri-
vately have agreed all along with
the Hobson view of the situation.
1t is easy enough, he says, to dis
miss all these things by saying
that a war is impossible, that the
United States can take care of it.
self, that Japan would not dare at
tack us and that all talk of such
thing emanates from excitable and
not we'll balanced people, but that
facts are facts. and he sees no use
in blinking them.
The report that Baron Ysauys
Uchida, Japanese Ambassador to this
SllCC DGGGUlUGI G11 4OOCg
was to be recalled, could not be as
certained to have any foundation in
Washington. The Japanese Ambas-
sador and the entire staff of the en-
bassy attended the New Years re-
ception of the President yesterday
morning, and have shown no signs
that there is anything but the utmost
cordiality upon their mart
The war scare has been aggravated
by several recent incidents, that of
the japanese officer in Baltimore
studying dock system" etc. 1t
was pointed out that the japanese
are remarkable people. No one
can ever tell what they are up to.
They have a wonderful talent for
keeping their own counsel.
Since the disclosures of the de-
fenseless state of the army, made in
the Dickinson report called for by
the McLachian Congressional resolu-
tion of inquiry, but recalled and
killed by order of President Taft,
there has been more unrest in mill
tary circles than for years.
: 1t is no secret that there are a
great many courageous. level-headed
officers in the army who thoroughly
agree with Representative Hobson's
views as to the probability of war
with Japan. In private conversa-
tion these officers do not hesitate to
say that this country, in the event of
war, would be absolutely helpless and
at the mercg of Japan unless we keep
command of the sea; that we have
no.army worth anything except that
which General Wood calls a ''skele-
ton army; no means of defending
either coast adequately beyond a
one-ocean navy.