The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-04
JAPANESE MASSES ARE
FRIENDLY TO AMERICA
No Possibility of Clash Between Two Countries and Respon
sbe Leaders the Nation Decry Attitude of lingo Press
Deep Seated Feeling However, Against Germany.

there Is still widespread friendship
for America. English IL the one
foreign language taught in all the
high schools. All Japanese know
and admire George Washington, Ben
jamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln
All know that America is the land OF
democracy where the common man
Is not despised. but has full rights.
All adult Japanese know OF the re-
turn Of the Shimonoseki indemnity
&7S5.000), and OF our freedom from
plans for territorial aggression. All
know that Americas helped Japan in
her first contact with the West. Hun
dreds of American missionaries have
lived in all parts OF Japan and have
won personal friendship in every
class OF society; TO the masses they
Americans are Thousands OF Japa-
nese students have studied in Ameri-
can schools, and have enjoyed full
privileges here, and splendid treat
ment. The result is such deep and
widespread confidence in America
that recent events though disturbing
have not yet shattered the friendship
for America of the lux and file OF
Japan.
One instance of this occurred this
, last March when Japan's friendship
for America was expressed in rather
striking fashion Miyazaki Is pro-
vince in South Japan far away from
the beaten path of travel. Here Rev.
and Mrs. Cyrus Clark have labored
as missionaries for twenty seven
years. About to start on their Ions
delayed furlough. after the usual fare
well meeting by the various Christian
churches and groups. they were given
a surprise farewell by the non-Chris-
tian citizens Of the province. 1t was
a large, enthusiastic affair and many
significant things were said Governor
Ariyoshi made the official address to
Mr. Clark, in the course OF which he
referred to the strained relations be-
tween America and Japan In the fol-
lowing words:
"On this happy occasion, II hardly
seems possible that there have ap-
peared of late those who have feared
there might ever occur break in the
J cordial intercourse between Japan and
America / speak of this only be-
cause | believe you well understand
that we people of Japan cherish an
especially warm affection and esteem
for the American people 1t is my
earnest desire that these doubts and
suspicious may be melted away from
their hearts. so that all your country
men may know the true state OF
things here, and understand our
spirit And. as l believe your view
is the same as mine. / hope you will
take advantage OF this opportunity
to do all in your power to establish
/! the historical cordially and friend
ship"
Surely this spontaneous statement
! by governor of one OF the interior
prefectures gives us a far more accu
rate knowledge of the real attitude of
japanese to America than the sinis-
ter assertions .of those who delight In
fomenting ill-will and suspicion be-
tween these two people.
| Among the hopeful features of the
situation is the appointment by the
/ federal council of the churches OF
| Christ In America of strong repre-
sentative commission on relations
with Japan. This action assures
Japan that we are preparing to re-
spond to her appeal to US for a Chris
tian solution of this question. 1t has
already been cordially welcomed by
leading Japanese. When this COM
mission shall have completed its In
vestigations and made its report to the
| churches and the country as to Its
findings and it's program. 1t ts to be
honed that the churches throughout
America will give them earnest heed
an" he ready TO do whatever may he
necessary.