Evening journal., 1914-10-01

AS the historian Bancroft says, the
wine of liberty" under American
auspices, took a deep root and filled
the land and reached unto both
oceans. Westward the tame OF this
only daughter OF freedom" crossed
the Pacific and inspired the islanders
of Japan.
h Today Japan is the one standard
bearer OF modernism in the whole
Orient "The wisdom which had
/ passed from India to Greece; the
jurisprudence OF Rome; the mediaeyal
municipalities; the Teutonic method OF
representation; the political experience
of England; the benignant wisdom OF
the eXpostors OF the law Of nature and
of nations in France and Holland all
shed ON her their selectest influence
But the nation whose political and
social ideals have exercised the most po-
tent influence upon Japan is the United
States. For the Declaration of lndepen-
dcnce found her disciple in the "child
of the worlds old age"
Geographically Japan intervenes be-
tween, the great autocracy Of Russia
and the grand republicanism Of Amer
lea With the moral support if not the
material assistance of the United
States, Japan hopes TO stem che tide OF
Russian autocracv with its militarism'
its religious intolerance, its discrmi
mating policy against foreign interests
in commerce and trade.
Japan cherishes no animosity towards
the Russian. but she realizes that her
greatest danger lies across the Japan
Sea. II is the irony of fate that In TAX
| ing up arms against Germany, Japan
should appear to be aiding Russia. The
japanese in America should feel sorry II
the Empire of tho Kaiser were TO be
overrun by the Cars CossaclSs, because
they stand for liberalism and are oppos-
ed to autocracy and militarism.
This very fact that the Japanese
stand for liberalism persuaded them TO
combat the militarism of Germany IN
the Far East. No one wishes more sin
cerely than the japanese that the war
should terminate promptly and result III
the establishment of better understand
ing between Japan and Germany, based
upon mutual respect and consideration,
each recognizing fully the rights OF the
other. For no two nations can be
friendly when either has no scruple 70
disregard the rights of the other.
That Japan's policy in China is IN per
feet harmony with that of the United
States needs no explanation. But Tor
those unintiated in the history of Far
Eastern diplomacy few words may not
be amiss.
Following upon the heels of the war
against Russia Japan concluded with
| England treaty whose foremost aim
was the "prcservation of the common
interests of all the powers in China by
insuring the independence and integrity
of the Chinese Empire and the principle
of equal opportunities for Che commerce
and industry Of all nations in China"
Again in June, 1907 japan took the
initiative to exchange with France n
memorandum whose aim was the pre-
servation OF the territorial integrity OF
China.
Japan's third attempt to preserve
China's integrity was made in July,
1907, when she succeeded in concluding
with Russia convention recognizing
"the independence and the territorial
integrity OF the Empire OF China and
the principle Of equal opportunity in
whatever concerns the commerce and
industry Of all nations ia that empire
and engaging "to sustain and defend the
maintenance of the status Quo and re-
.pect for this principle bv all the pacific
means within their reach
II is plain 30 YOU that the principles
embodied in all these documents are In
perfect consonance with the traditional
poEcy of the United States in the Far
East as enunciated by the late illustri-
Gus secretary, Mr.. John Hay, and con
sistently followed by his successors
With n desire to insure peaceful re-
lations with the United States, Japan in
1908 and in 1914 signed with the latter
nation an arbitration convention which
provides that differences which may
arise of a legal nature, or relating TO
the Interpretation of treaties existing
between the two contracting parties and
which it may not have been possible TO
settle by diplomacy shall be referred TO
the Permanent Court OF Arbitration. es-
tablished at The Hague by tho conVen-
tion of the Doth July, 1899, provided,
nevertheless. that they do not affect the
vital interests. the independence, or the
: honor of the two contracting states, and
do not concern the interests of third
parties
To cement still further the ties OF
friendship between the two countries
Japan in renewing the treaty of alli-
ance with Great Britain in l0ll, cheer.
fully agreed TO insert in that document
the following article; "Should either
high contracting party conclude a
treaty Of general arbitration with q
third power. 10 Is agreed that nothing IN
this agreement shall entail upon such
contracting party an obligation to 20 tC
war with tho power with whom sucl
treaty of arbitration is in force"
This clause should ease the minds OF
those Americans who seem 10 appre
hend that Japan with Enqland's aid
may some day come into collision Will
the United States
As we write we learn that the Japan
ese navy, with Englands consent, has
detailed several cruisers ON the trad,
routes between the Pacific ports Of th,
United States and the Far East. Iapanf
foremost object in joining hands will
England in the present world crisis Is T.
keep the Pacific lanes of trade fre
from molestation rs well as TO remov