Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 191?-19??, 1914-08-20
GoLDsBoRo N. c. THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 20. 1e14
ATTITUDE OF u. S. WILL
Be OF NONINTERFERENCE
Her Reply to Japan, 1t is Believed, Will
Be Firm and UnequivOcal Refus-
al to Admit the japanese Right
to Dictate to Germany.

Washington, Aug. 17.-Japan's sud-
den entry into the European war situ-
alton as factor which might quickly
increase the range of the great con-
f1ict to the far east commanded wide
attention today among officials of the
Washin gton government and diplomats
generally.
The attitude Of the United States, it
interference in the controversy be-
tween Japan and Germany. This was
reflected somewhat in the studied re-
ticence of both President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan. The President had
been asked whether Japan's assurance
that she eventually would restore
Kiau-Chau to China in case that terri
tory was obtained from Germany, was
regarded as satisfactory here. The
President replied that he saw no reas-
On to question Japan's good faith in
that connection, but carefully refrain
ed from expressing any opinion on
the merits of the ultipatum or ia
pans attitude. Published reports to
the effect that the President had ex-
pressed himself as satisfied with ia
pans cours, were promptly denied by
Secretary Tumu1ty tonight at the Pres
ident's direction.
Diplomatic dispatches brought no
further information as to the future
1I1%
official Washington was diverted for
the moment from the thought of hos
ti1ities in Europe to a hypothetical
consideration of how American posses
sions 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 CarolinhsF islands,
which are on the American line of
communication to Philippines and how
that eventually might affect the inter
ests of the American government in.
the Pacific.
cles that the ultimatum to Germany ap-
piled specifically to the German occu-
patton of territory on the Asiatic main
land, nothing being said about the
German insular possessions iH Au-
stralia However, it was explained
that in the event Of Germany's refusal
to meet the Japanese demands, and Of
Japanese success in war, the condi-
tions imposed upon Germany might be
extending so as to include the ceding to
japan and to her ally.
Germany recently has tried to indi-
cate to the United States government
the community interest that exist
between the two in the Asiatic hold
a suggestion that the eastern waters
and shores be neutralized by mutual
consent.
The Japanese belief is that the Ger
man government will takeefull advant-
age of the weeks time allowed in the
ultimatum for reply. This is founded
upon a scarcely concealed belief that
this reply will be a firm and unequivo-
cal refusal to admit the Japanese right
to dictate to Germany her attitude in
the far east. The Intervening time, il
is believed, will be spent in Fastening
the defense of Ting Tsu, the single
German naval station; in planting
mines in the sea and in placing the
German fleet in secure position under
the guns of the shore Notifications.
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