The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-08-26
WILL REMAIN SILENT
ABOUT JAPAN'S DEMAND.
The United States Refuses to Allow
Itself to be Drawn Into Far East
ern Controversy.

Japan's sudden entry into the Eu-
ropean war situation as a factor
which might quickly increase the
range of the great conflict to the far
East commanded wide attention both
among officials of the Washington
governments and diplomats general
".
The attitude of the United States.
it became clear, would be one Of non
interference in the controversy be-
tween Japan and Germany. This was
reflected somewhat in the studied
reticence of both President Wilson
and Secretary Bryan. The president
has been asked whether Japan's as
surance that she eventually would re-
store Kiau Chau to China in case
that territory wos obtained from Ger
many was regarded as satisfactory
at Washington.
MIR. Wilson replied that he saw no
reason to question Japan's good faith
in that connection, but carefully re-
Trained from expressing any opinion
on the merits of the ultimatum OF
Japans attitude. Published reports
to the effect that the president had
declared himself as satisfied with
Japan's course were promptly denied
by Secretary Tumulty Tuesday night
at the presidents direction.
"The president feels it incumbent
on himself" said Secretary Tumulty,
''as the head of neutral nation, to
express no opinion whatsoever on the
attitude of Japan or any other coun-
try"
Diplomatic dispatches brought no
further information as to the future
course of either Japan or Germany,
but official Washington was diverted
for the moment from the thought of
hostilities to a hypothetical consid-
Grafton of how American possessions
in the far East ultimately might be
affected by the results Of an exten-
sion of the war to the Orient.
Army strategists discussed among
themselves whether japan might not
also. take the German possessions in
the Samoan and Caroline islanls,
which are on the American line OF
communication to the PHILIPPINES,
and how that eventually might af-
feet the interests Of the American
government in the Pacific.
1t was pointed out in japanese
circles that the ultimatum to Ger
many applies specifically to the Ger
man occupation Of territory on the
Asiatic mainland, nothing being said
about the German insular possessions
in Australasia. However. it was ex-
planned that in the event of Ger
many's refusal to meet the japanese
demands and the Japanese success
in war, the conditions imposed upon
Germany might be extended so as to
include the ceding to Japan and to
her ally, Great Britain, Of all of these
island groups gathered in by Ger
many during the last 25 years.
Germany recently has tried to in
dicate to the United States govern
ment the community OF interests
that exists between the two in their
Asiatic holdings. Last week this
took the form Of a suggestion that
the Eastern waters and shores be
neutralized by mutual consent.
The japanese belief is that the
German government will, take full
advantage Of the weeks time allow
ed in the ultimatum for reply
This belief that this reply will be a
firm and unequivocal refusal to ad-
NIT the Japanese right to dictate to
Germany her attitude in the far East.
The intervening time, ii is believed,
will be spent in fastening the de-
fenses of Ting-Tsu. the single Ger
man naval station, in placing the Ger
man feet in secure position under
the guns Of the shore Notifications.