Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
FREE EXCHANGE or VIEWS
BETWEEN JAPAN AND j. s,
Professor Smaller Mathews and Ba-
ron Kato Speak With Entire
Frankness.
ELABORATION OF SUMMARY
Members Of American Colony in To-
kyo Believe These Addresses Will
Do Much Toward Strengthening
Cordially Between Two Nations.

IOkfO, February 2S.-The freedom
with which views have been exchanged
rs to the relations between tho United
States and Japan has been n notable
feature OF the past few weeks. This
has been due directly to the visit of
Professor Smaller Mathews, OF tho Uni
versity OF Chicago. part OF whose
speeches here I'm the interests of
friendlier relations have been cabled.
Professor Mathews bore instructions
from the Federal Council of Churches
OF Christ in America, which orRaniza-
tion sent him hero to present American
Views. AZ he interpreted them, with
entire frankness. In tho same spirit.
Baron Kato. the Minister OF Foreign
Affairs, replied, after hearing Pro
lessor Mathews speak before the Con
cordia Association.
In elaboration OF the summary OF
these views, which was cabled, there |
follow of the more Interesting
portions of the two addresses which |
the American colony here believes will
do much toward strengthening tho cor
diality between the two peoples.
Professor Mathewa said the great
body OF Christians In tho United
States WAS ready to be OF service to
japan II it's services were desired. AS
TO the American attitude toward Japan.
he said. he thought aome Americans
failed to understand Japan's foreign
policy, and suspected the Japanese of
deliberately Undertaking to be In the
East what Germany undertook to be
in Europe.
Il have been reading literature on
that subject sufficiently TO SEQ how
that Is" he said. There are express
stons I'm Japanese publications which
give tho Impressions similar to tho ret
marks OF General Bernhard, relative
do not want to have emphasized In
your minds as dominant one. or in
any sense active or general. but there
Is no question that II is I'm the minds
OF some American citizens: and at tho
risk OF appearing discourteous. I want
to mention one or two things In this
connection.
Il know you will not understand me
as saying what think but simply re-
porting what ! have found In America
There is feeling on the part of GER
tain Americans that the agitation over
tho California incident is all out of
proportion to tho Importance OF tho
incident. and that the real point that
lies back OF II all Is a suspicion that
Japan fears that America Will in some
way mix up with China The argument
is 10 the effect that the treatment OF
Japanese by New Zealand. Australia
tsh empire Is certainly as unjust as
that In the case OF California and vet
nothing Is said about that; whereas
In the case of America, attention is
conferred there as diversion for
drawing attention to the Chinese
policy"
American feeling abou, China was
twofold. Professor Mathews thought
There was, first, the commercial desire
expressed In tho so-called policy OF
the open door There was also sor,
OF romantic feeling for China and the !
integrity of that country. 1t was the |
came sort OF feeling that America had |
sixty years ago for Japan. II was not !
military feeling. He could not !
imagine that tho United States would |
ever think OF going TO war over the
matter but ran into a great many
other things. all OF which tended 20
mead up In the minds of some Ameri- |
cans in that word Japanese imperial
ISM and the control of the Pacific
Professor Mathews left the United
States when the Tsingchau situation
was very much In discussion. The
people or America got impression
thht tho Japanese government prom
ised to give back Tsingchau to China,
he said. There came dispatch in
which 1t was stated that no such
promise had been given. lie thought
he could understand that situation
lie himself did not think that any such
promise was given. except in terms
Of the ultimatum. which was very
different thing from what the Ameri-
can people thought Some believed
that Japan was losing the greatest
opportunity that ever came to a nation
In It's failure TO get people to under
stand and to net in accordance with
what Americans thought was going TO
BE- done.
When Mr.. Bryan announced that
there were twenty-seven or twenty
nine nations who had agreed to peace
treaties. there was distinct feeling
in the press OF disappointment that
Germany and Japan would be the two
nations that had not signed them.
There was also a feeling common in
America that the United States Is full
OF japanese spies engaged in spying
out harbors, Notifications. etc.
He emphasized strongly that this
feeling was not at all significant in
comparison with the great undercur-
rent of present admiration and real
sympathy and good Will for the won
derful Japanese empire.
EFFORT To BRING ABOUT
DETER UNDERSTANDING
lie concluded: What our Church
Federal Council Is trying to do Is to
bring about better understanding on
the part OF America. We represent. I
am sure. the attitude OF the great In
telligent classes and OF the religious
classes. and hope that anything that
may have said will not destroy the
true prospects OF good will and desire
TO cooperate without n trace Of de-
sire to force japan In any way"
Baron Kato thanked Professor
Mathews for his frank and straight
forward presentation OF the views and
sentiments entertained by the Ameri-
can people, or part OF them, regard