New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-16

ment. But. even so. war would doubt
less necessitate great foreign loans and
these would be very difficult TO obtain.
That the financial condition is very
serious is shown by the programme OF
| retrenchment which the government Is
now adopting. This scheme, which in
wolves the outright dismissal from the
| government service of about 1900 OFF,
Gals. in the interests of economy, demon
strates that things must be pretty
serious, for the government now in power
will do much I'm taking this step toward
making itself unpopular, particularly with
1900 jobless officials. The plan was to
have been promulgated day before yes
terday, but the details have not been
| completed. There are daily meetings OF
the Cabinet on the matter.
The government realizes the necessity
of rigid economy. The people are heavily
taxed as ii is. Another war, If unsuc-
cessfuI, would make the burden too heavy
| to bear.
Final Say with People.
The fact remains. however, that gov
| ernments do not always have the final
say as to whether there shall or shall not
be war. Time has been when the people
aroused TO anger, have forced an unwill-
| ing government into actual conflict with
another nation This is what might hap
! pen as between the United States and
Japan. particularly in view of the indica-
lions that the people are quite ready and
willing to do business by demonstration.
With a view TO ascertaining as nearly
as possible the actual chance Of such a
thing occurring here. the writer put the
question to several persons. inquirlng
| particularly into the ability of the gov
eminent to hold the people in check II the
situation with America grew more seri-
Gus. Foreigners who were approached
admitted that the control of the govern
ment over the people was marvellous, and
pointed to how the country became CAIN
on word from the government during the
! recent agitation. But. they said, 1t was
still true that the people had new
found weapon and might be ready 10
make use OF II on occasion.
Some OF them also limited that the re-
| cent agitation might have been prevented
If the government had so desired. 1t Is
fact that the agitation served Japan
| useful purpose in inducing the Amerl-
can government to take action favorable
20 Japan in the California matter Tine
Tribune correspondent approached Mt.
Matsui, the Westminster for Foreign
Affairs. a diplomat OF experience and OF
great ability He was asked II the gov
eminent could hold the people back IN
case the decision in America was ad-
verse TO japanese desires. Mr.. Matsui
! said he believed that the government
could exercise control sufficient TO hold
in check any unreasonable agitation on
the part OF the lingo element.
The troubles which We have recently
had over the California matter he said'
were largely due to the activities OF the
irresponsible element intent upon simply
making trouble. That time is passed now,
and there will be no further difficulty
Less Said the Better.
At this time Mr. Matsui is unwilling,
because Of the agreement which has been
reached between the two governments, 70
discuss IN detaij the objections which
japan makes 10 the obnoxious California
legislation He believed, he said, that
the less said about IL the better He did
say. however. that Japan believed that
the treaty between Japan and America
had been violated by unfair discrimina-
ton against Japanese, and that Japan
was protesting 20 the American govern
ment against a violation of not only the
spirit Of the treaty. but the letter OF 1t
as well.
Mr.. Matsui made II thoroughly clear
that japan is not seeking trouble with
America: that. I'm fact. she desires nothing
I'm the world except peace and friendly re-
la;ions. But in his attitude there could
be discerned the feeling which all Jap
anese naturally hold. that Japan cannot
tolerate unjust discrimination.
From the japanese point Of view the
thing that is now happening in California
is certainly unjust discrimination. FROM
an American and foreign point Of view
the situation doesn't show itself IN quite
the same light. Americans here feel that
California is entitled 10 do within GER
tain limitations anything she likes, ana
those Americans, many OF them suffering
under the restrictions placed on thein anu
other foreigners by japanese laws are
worry much pleased over the step taken
nv the state They do not believe that
there has so far been any violation OF the
American japanese treaty, except per-
hans. in spirit. And as long as the Jap
anese decline, as they do, TO permit
Americans to own land in Japan. they do
~
not care whether the spirit Of the treaty
is violated or not. They see in Calitor-
MAS action in obstructing japanese own
ership OF California land an act OF simple
reciprocal Justice, and they applaud II
and hone that the American government
will make the most OF IT,
How Americans Feel.
There is a feeling here that the new
administration in Washington has shown
tendency TO give in too much to tie
Ianarese. II looks from this end like
surrender before there has been even an
argument. And. knowing as they do that
America has a whole boxful OF counter
charges and claims against the unjust
treatment of Americans I'm Japan. the
Americans here hope that these Will be
brought out and Japan chased TO the
diplomatic woods.
There IS very good reason to believe
that. IL properly handled. this can be
done. and. in fact. that the present I'M
fortunate situation is useless and I'M
necessary. Japan has already once re-
fused an invitation from the American
Al. Tor of