The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-18
Capture of Tsing-tao Called a Big
Step in Nippon's Scheme
of ACKNOWLEDGMENT

China. Business interests have made
progress in spite Of rather than be-
cause Of the State Department. And
China. while appreciating tradi-
tional friendship that has always
existed between the two Countries has
become accustomed TO seeing Ameri-
can friendship for her expressed by
the setting aside Of days Of prayer for
the republic and by words of advice
from visiting Americans. In the big
issues economic, financial and politi-
cal which arise in Pekin where ques-
lions vital to her national life are at
stake, she has learned Of recent years
to turn elsewhere. But in the present
crisis she has nowhere else to turn
for support than to the United States.
Much Of the discussion OF Ameri-
can-Japanese relations is colored on
one hand by jingoism and on the other
by soft sentmentaity. Readers OF
the charming works Of Lafcadio Hearn
and visitors to the island of Nippon
are apt to be hypnotized by a land
scape that Is fairyland and people
that are clever and courteous. on the
other hand the yellow peril aspect
Of Japan's rise TO power gets liberal
publicity.
Sooner or later We must come to a
recognition Of the fact that the United
States has not yellow peril to deal
with. but "a civilized. powerful. ambi-
tious. hard headed Asiatic nation that
intend to take advantage Of every OPP
portunity in the future as she has in
the past TO advance her military and
economic position in the Far East at
the expense Of any competitor that
she can dislodge.
Many Americans have become OBJ
sessed with the idea that war with
Japan is inevitable and that the United
States in the event Of war would he
thrashed. Any obstruction that the
American Government puts in the way
OF japanese ambition, they say. leads
us nearer the brink. Let us, there
fore. make haste TO scuttle the Philip
pines before they get us into trouble.
draw out of Asia ana stay at home
where we belong. they urge. Japan
is the great American bogy.
II by any chance such war were
forced upon the United States il would
be largely financial and commercial
war. The japanese are at present
taxed to the limit. Last year owing to
the state of her finances Japan began
material retrenchment in her naval
programme. A half Of the trade of
Japan is with the United States and
the destruction of that by the simple
closing of United States markets
would be fatal blow.
The Panama Canal has made pos
slble the gathering of the entire United
states navy for the protection of the
Pacific coast against the japanese fleet
after it had passed Pearl Harbor On
its 5000 mile voyage To attack the
Pacific coast. And after Japan had
taken the Philippine Islands the war
would settle into long distance con-
test in which Japan would have little
hope against the tremendous resources
that the United States could bring to
bear in form of ships.
The most interesting development %
such a war would be the attitude Of
Japan's present ally, Great Britain.
Common sentiment in Australia, New
Zealand, Canada and the Malay Straits
is as anti-Japanesc as il Is in San
Frncisco. Before the present war be-
gan there was a feeling among Brit
ishers in China that the alliance with
Japan had outl.vrd its usefulness. and
much criticism was privately ex.
pressed when Japan was brought into
the present conflict.
In view Of this sentiment il Is un.
thinkahlc that Great Britain woult
wage common war on the United
states with Japan, 1t is only reason
able to suppose that she would take
measures which would either prevent
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