New-York tribune., 1911-10-25
JAPANESE AT PORTSMOUTH
Dr. Grifis Gives High Credit to Count
Komura and Baron Takahira.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: While 10 the brilliant writer Of
"Anglo-Amerlcan Memories" whose writ
Ings have enjoyed during forty years or
more. We are all indebted FOR information
and illumination. yet I am sure that the
Impressions which his recent sketches OF
De Vitte and the conference OF Ports
mouth leave upon the minds NJ most or
his readers are very misleading After
forty-six years OF intimate knowledge or
the Japanese-both Count komura and
Baron Takahira having been my pupils IN
Japan. the former for three years and the
latter for several months am unable 20
accept some Of MI Smalley.s statements
or TO believe rhat his Impressions are
science
Ia the first place do not think that as
many as a score OF the chief thinking men
~ Japan ever believed that they Woula
receive the large indemnity from Russia
which was demanded or that the results
Of the conference would be satisfactory 10
the newspapers and populace OK japan
Count Komura knew this well, for the last
words uttered TO him by the Marquis TO-
when leaving Japan for America, were IN
warning that he must on his return e1-
uact 10 encounter a storm Of unpopularity'
So far from being "outgeneralied' IN the
conference. the Japanese gained the main
points relating 10 Manchuria and Corea'
for which the war was fought. De Wltte
pertinacity on what, 10 the Russian seemed
the main point at issue enabled komura
10 score on the more important matters.
some of the statements In tie cn5rmlnS
authors last letter are 10 those VINO know
the japanese and their history absolutely
incredible. Subtle Orientals' sounds Ike
cant and traditional rhetoric. That the
Jauanese we're "overbaarinS IN manner
do not believe. Of physical differences
aru convinced. but not OF any vast con
-rast i'm brain power. To talk Of Count
Kou7ura I'm the strain assumed IS hardly
worthy Of science. Speaking and writing
English accurately for thirty-fye years be
fore coming 10 Portsmouth. graduate or
Harvard. long confronted hy some ~ the
aBlest dinlomatists in the world at TOXIC
PekinE. Seoul and Washington ana ior-
ruerlv Minister of the Mikado a. our ma
tionaI capital. a Jolly singer o. American
college songs and a pleasant companion
when the time was appropriate cannot
recognize ny old friend and pupil Komura,
and hardly -akahlra. in the brilliant writ
er-s impressions.
1g lI- SmaIlev's tribute 20 tho power
os Journalism and NJ tho mistake NJ me
fanarese I'm partially iEnoFiug this force,
am FREQ -o sneak with thsnkfulness N him.
WITH al honor and gratitude 20 our great.
good and wise President and his part IN
tho Portsmouth negotiations. 7 Reg to say
thar do not share some vulgar American
s,,,e-stI.ior= as 10 his or anv other alien 3.
rovra- 10 force" the japanese government
~ tho car and hts illustrious servant we're
.tba real authors Of the Peace Of Ports
mouth" any more than were the emperor
NJ J7pan and his elder statesmen and his
servants at Portsmouth-equals in every
sense except the physical ones Of bulk and
avoirdupois-then 7 know nothing or me
reople and their history, 70 which / have
Given most of my adult life 20 understand
az first hand.
Let me Join in tho praise or tho two
Dussiaus-one the grandson OF a Dutch
man and the other a descendant OF a
Fuguenot-vh0 so uobly served Russia az
Port srrouth. Personally. however. I should
have little fear of the mcn-whose fathers
began modern dipIomacy with Perry I'M
rS-- continued under Townsend Harris and
Sir Harry Parkes and in whose possession
and constant use a library on international
law has been since 1S12-when confronted
,r.,r rne abIcst mon OF Russia or the
United States. Certainly the events IN the
Far East since 1908 show no weakness in
JaDsuese diplomacy iu any way corre-
epordin= n the picture OF it AT Ports
mouth. as given by Mr Smalley which
seems 10 me more subjective than his
to-icai. II seems a pity tnat traditional
AND horedita~v prejudice should rule our
judgments when we ere talking or writ
ing of "Oricntals.'
am still under the conviction that AZ
Portsmouth. in 1906 the japanese won the
main points in the game OF diplomacy
taat Russia emerged with honor and that
90 both parties and 70 President Roosevelt
tho issue was eminently creditable. and
retain also the highest appreciation az
c. ". s VM. ELLIOT GKLttiS.
Ithaca. y. +. oct. o. 1911.