The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-08-08
JAPANS CONDUCT TO CHINA
EXPLAINED FOR AMERICANS

San Francisco, Cal. Aug. The
conduct of Japan toward China is eN-
planned especially for American un-
derstanding by Count Okuma, the
japanese premier, in a message which
has been given to the Associated
Press offices here by DE-. Clay Mac
Cauley. an American clergyman and
author, who for many yeas has peen
resident of Toxic and an active
leader in the American and japanese
peace societies.
Count Okuma is said to desire
greatly that the American under.
standing of Japans relations with
China be clarified in some particulars
and DR. MacCauley, who has enjoyed
close personal acquaintance WITH the
premier, undertook to crafty the lat
ter's wish by reporting 4 summary OF
half an hours interview which he
had with Count Okuma, through an
Interpreter This summary is de.
scribed by Dr. MacCauley as a faith
.iul one, but not an effort TO reproduce
the Counts remarks literally
THE rise of Japan" the Premier
began has induced some concern
and aroused some unrest in the west.
In the histories of natiors we see
that often, with the genesis and
growth of new nationality, violent
aggressions accompanied by various
barbarities and sometimes atrocities,
have marked their advance. 1t is
not to be wondered at. therefore, that
the rise and expansion of Japan have
drawn TO them suspicious attention
in the west, especially since the pass
ing of the China-Japan war tv enty
years ago. And now, world atten-
ton is being given to the course of
the diplomatic relations that have
arisen between these two countries.
But the intelligent classes of Ameri'
cans may easily understand the pc
culiar position in which Japan has
been placed by the movement Of ev-
ents in the Far East.
The United States has gained its
present greatness and power as the
result of a long process or anneXa-
tions OF territory by both purchase
and conquest You know that the
enormous Louisiana territory was
bought by your country, and that
Texas and California came to you
through conquest. BY these acts OF
conquest, Mexico. directly, must have
lost greatly. Yet, indirectly, Mex
leo has been benefited mTeasLrably
by the conduct of her strong and
faithful neighbor-the United States
IT, for example, your country had
been Indifferent or passive fifty years
ago TO what then occurred IN Mexico
that country would have come under
the rule of the French dynasty and
the greed of the ambitious Louis Ma
poleon would have been gratifed
Mexico should be grateful for the
friendship and the helpfll protection
of the United States as sven to her
at that time.
Now, il is not going too far TO say
that a very good parallel can be
drawn between the relation az pres
ent existing between Japan and
China and that guiding the conduct
of the United States towards Mexico
in the past,-the only noticeable diff
ference being in the relative magni'
tudes and resources Of the nationals
ties of the Far East. China has been
supported either directly or indirect
" by Japan for a long time. Had
this not been the case, the ancient
Chinese empire-now the newest re.
public,-would have collapsed and
would have suffered dissolution or
partition long before this.
Japan has never attempted or
wished to do away with the sovereign
integrity and national independence
Of china. Even the China-japar war
of 1S94-5 was fought, above all else
for the sake of the self-pieservation
of the japanese nation lllty.
The course of the recent interna-
tional affairs between Japan and
China seems to have occasioned
some severe criticism in parts Of the
west. but the diplomatic motives and
the conduct of the discussions have
been right and very just
sIt ,-as evident 10 Jauan that the