Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-10
JAP 7 OLD HO v
NIPPON WOULD
MAKE WAR
On j. 8.
Mr.. Graves NarrateS Remarkable
Story Told Him by Ameri-
can Statesman.
By JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.

WASHINGTON, June 1O.-A re-
markable story has come 10 me
from an authoritative source in the
last Congress.
The American statesman to whom
! refer was closely associated with
the foreign affairs of our Govern
ment He was a particularly init
mate friend of Baron Uchida. the
japanese Ambassador preceding
Baron Chinda.
One night after dinner with Baron
Uchida, the American drifted into
frank discussion of future conditions
that might make trouble between this
country and Japan.
Turning to Uchida, he said: Baron,
/ am we'll aware from my Official
cIoseness to our foreign affairs that
in case of war between our countries
all the preliminary advantages would
be on the side of your people.
Il do not hesitate to say, which
l am sure you know, that we of
America are shamefully unprepared
in. the conditions and equipment of
our navy, in our naval bases and
our coast defenses, and even in our
small and inadequate army, to cope
with the splendid preparedness of
your trained and disciplined navy
and of your veteran soldiers.
Does my estimate of conditions
agree with yours
Frank Talks.
Ambassador Uchida, runs the story,
got up from his chair, and with evil
denCe Of intense interest and feeling
replied:
You are a frank square man, Mr..
-. ] like you, / trust you and
! viii talk to you frankly.
"All that you say is true, and much
more than what you say is true.
Japan knows just exactly what It
could do with America in case Of
war Every official of the japanese
Government knows. We are prepar-
ed and have long been prepared, full
~ prepared. Since the Russian war
ended we have had in our minds the
possibility of a conflict with the I'm
tied States and have carefully and
specifically gotten ready for It.
we know every detail of your de-
lenses on land and sea, every bay
inlet and sounding on your coast
from Seattle to San Diego and down
To Mexico. We know the weak spots
i'm your five great transCOntinental
railways between the Pacific and the
Rocky Mountains. We know the de-
fendable passes, the destructible
bridges
In case Of war. Japan could I'M
doubleday take the Philippines with
out great expenditure Of money or
blood. We could take the Hawaiian
Islands and Guam. We could batter
the defenses of your Panama Canal
and destroy the work of years in a
few days Moreover we could IN
doubleday occupy the State of Cali
fornia and your entire Pacific Coast
and hold it against all corners for
year or more.
Within Three Years.
But after this. what Japan
would De bankrupt, and We know it,
"More1yer. Russia i'm the North
with the knowledge Of this fact and
with the engagement of our armies
and navies on the American coasts
Russia would take advantage of the
fact. drive Us out of ManChurla, and,
sweeping down upon Nippon, might
vi hNl l'f't'l' '''' w ''- t--
the sea.
Moreover. the boundless resources
and energies of your people which /
know as well as you do, would rally
and in the sheer might Of numbers
drive our armies from the Pacific
Coast into the Pacific ocean.
within three years there would
be no Japan"
While the story was being told,
however, there sat beside me an
American soldier and a diplomat.
at will not do to trust too much
to the assurance Of Uehida, even in
the friendly atmosphere IN which he
spoke. The Japanese are willy even
between drinks"
Japan is seeking now to negotiate
treaty with Russia to hold hands
off,
If Japan could do this, then we
may expect an immediate change in
Its attitude
THE STORY HAS FOR Me BUT
A SINGLE MORAL.
BUILD MORE BATTLESHIPS
STRENGTHEN OUR NAVY AND
MAKE OUR COAST DEFENSES
ADEQUATE FOR ALL EMERGEN-
CTES'
n If T TETa1