The Washington herald., 1914-08-14
LOOK FOR JAPAN
TO GO TO War
U. S. Officials Believe She
Awaits Only Slightest Pre-
text to Help Britain.
WOULD GET BIG PRIZE
At Little Cost Mikado Could Win Ter
ritOry and England's Obligations
in Case of Future Conflict.

New York. Aug. IA Washington dis
patch to the Sun says:
"onicials here and members of the Dip
tomato Corps are watching with great
interest for some indication OF what
Japan is to do with respect to the war in
Europe.
The belief Is strong in Washington
that Japan intends to get into the con-
fiict, II there is the slightest excuse Of
fered her to act under the terms OF her
treaty OF alliance with Great Britain.
Thus far there have been no reports re-
ceived here Of any attack upon British
interests In the Far East, which is, the
only justification, under the Anglo-Jap-
anese alliance, for Japan taking hand
In the game. .
COuId Win Much.
The impression that Japan would like
to get into II is based largely upon the
belief that she could win much by en-
tering the war and that at very little
cost Were Japan to throw her forces
into the conflict in the Far East, there
would be a tremendous preponderance in
favor of Japan, Great Britain. France,
and Russia as against Germany alone,
for Austria has practically nothing in
those regions II is this certain pre-
ponderance against her which gives rise
to the belief here that Germany will
make every effort TO avoid a clash with
the British in the Far East, in order not
TO bring down upon her the power Of
Japan. The loss of Tsing-tau and the
powerful German influence in that + art
of China TO Japan is believed to be GER
tain II the Mikado enters the conflict.
Another reason assigned for Japan's
assumed desire to get into it pertains
TO the relations of the United States with
Japan. By many it is believed that
Japan is anxious to have occasion arise
for going to the assistance Of Great
Britain, in order that she may place that
country under heavy obligation to her in
case of a conflict between Japan and the
United States at some time in the future.
Might Take Islands.
During the last year, when the rela-
lions between the United States and
Japan threatened to become strained,
the general belief was that Great Britain
would decline to join Japan in any war
against the United States, not only be-
cause of the repugnance Of such action
generally to the British people, but also
because the interests Of Canada and
Australia are so nearly identical with
those of the United States with regard
TO Japanese immigration.
Should Japan Join in the war on Ger
many, il is declared, it would be a simple
matter indeed for her to capture the Ger
man possessions in the South Pacific.
These consist chiefly of the Caroline Is
lands and a number Of the Samoan Is
lands. Possession OF the German Sa-
means by the japanese would give the
latter a strong strategic point right along
side one belonging to the United States,
which already is planning a giant wire
less station on the Island of Tutuila.
Such islands would be most useful to
Japan as coaling stations. it is declared,
not only in case Of hostilities with the
United States, but also for the support
of her trade routes TO the United States
and South and Central America"