Valdez daily prospector., 1914-09-03
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1914.
JAPAN'S INTENTIONS.

The summons served upon Ger many by Japan demanding the with drawal of the German armed vessels of all kinds from Far Eastern waters and the delivery of Kiao Chau to Ja- pan to be eventually restored to Chi na, is a matter of no little concern to the United States. It is plain that under Article II. of her treaty with England, Japan is not called upon to make war upon Germany, for there has been no "unproy oked" at tack" upon British territory or inter- ests in that quarter of the world. It is possible that Japan would de- fend the issue of her ultimatum by reference to that section of the pre- amble which states that one of the objects of the treaty is the con- solidation and maintenance of the general peace in the regions of East ern Asia and India" But Japan puts herself in the attitude of disturb CT not preserver of the peace in Eastern Asia when she addresses to Germany a communication that plain ly means war. Justification for making war upon Germany not be- ing clearly discernible in the terms of the treaty, it is natural that there should be much speculation as to the real purpose Japan has in view.
 Her declaration that she demands the surrender of Kiao Chau by Ger many with the intention of restoring that leased territory to China is re- assuring, certainly. It was upon the initiative of Secretary Hay that the Powers pledged themselves to respect the territorial integrity of China. But as Sir Edward Grey said of Ger many's assurances with respect to Belgium and France, Japan's prom ise as to the eventual transfer of Kiao Chau to China is too narrow. When nations are at war they strike at each other where they may. Ger many not only has Kiao Chau, but she holds also the Bismarck Islands, near New Guinea, and the groups known as the Caroline, Mariana, Mar shall, and Pelew Islands and a part of the Samoan group. Should Japan descend upon and seize the Carolines, the Marshall Islands, and German Samoa, she would become very neighbor of ours in Guam and in Sa- moa, and she would have advanced a very considerable distance toward Hawaii. The possession of these ls' lands would give her coaling and na- val stations on the direct line De- tween the Panama Canal and the Philippines. It is not to be supposed that we could view such changes of territorial ownership without anxiety.
 Japan's assurances to our govern ment that American interests in the Pacific will be in no way threatened by her hostile dealing with Germany are to be accepted in good faith, of course. These are reinforced by the British statement that Japan will now confne her warlike operations to the China Sea. But there is general belief that it is the policy of Japan to assert and maintain for herself su- premacy and control in the Asiatic waters of the Pacific with a view, probably, to the ultimate exclusion of the influence of Western nations.
 The import of such policy with respect to the Philippines is, Of course, too plain to require pointing out. While the Philippines are not a highly prized possession of the United States, and although we have declared our purpose to surrender them into the control of their own people as soon as they are fitted for self-government, nevertheless they are at present territory belonging to us, and it would be our duty to pro- tect and defend them. For that req son when we see Japan about to be- gin a war which would in all prob ability give her the possession of i'm portant stations along the line of our communications with the Philippines, we are bound to inquire somewhat closely into the actual as we'll as the avowed purpose of the undertak- ing.
 The obvious fact that her treaty with England in nowise makes this step obligatory upon Japan inevitably begets the suspicion that in specify ing the surrender of Kiao Chau she has not fully proclaimed her tnten- tions. This is a European war. Ja- pans participation in the hostilities appears to us to be unprovoked, and
 it is accordingly unwelcome. In the