Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-24

! TOXIC, Fen. 1.-The freedom With
| which views have been exchanged as
| to the relations between the United
States and Japan has been a notable
feature Of the past few weeks. This
has been due directly to the visit of
Prof. Smaller Mathews of the Uni
versity Of Chicago, part of whose
speeches here in the interests Of
friendlier relations have been cabled.
Prof. Mathews bore instructions from
| the Federal Council Of Churches OF
| Christ In America, which organiza-
ton sent him here, to present Ameri-
can views. as he interpreted them.
1 with entire frankness. In the same
spirit. Baron Kato, the minister Of
foreign affairs, replied, after hearing
Prof. Mathews speak before the Con-
| cordia Association.
In elaboration Of the summary Of
| these views, which was cabled. there
follow some Of the more interesting
portion of the two addresses. which
the American colony here believes
will do much toward strengthening
the cordially between the two peo-
pies.
! Prof. Mathews said the great body
Of Christians in the United States
was ready to be of service to Japan If
it's services were desired. AS to the
American attitude toward Japan, he
said he thought some Americans
failed to understand Japans 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 see how
that is" he said. There are express
sions in Japanese publications which
give the impressions similar to the
remarks of General Bernardo, rc!a
tive to German ku;ur. This feeling
again, l do not want to have empha-
sized in your minds as dominant
one. or in any sense active or gen
eral. but there is no question that II
| is in the minds of some American
citizens: and. at the risk Of appearing
| discourteous, ! want to mention one
or two things in this connection.
Il know you will not understand me
as saying what 1 think, but simply
reporting what I have found in
America There is a feeling on the
part of certain Americans that the
agitation over the California incident
is all out of proportion to the i'm
portance Of the incident. and that the
real point that lies back Of it all is 4
suspicion that Japan fears that
| America will in some way mix up
| with China The argument is to the
effect tn / the treatment of japanese
by New Zealand, Australia, Canada
and otht.. sections of the British
! Empire IL certainly as unjust as that
| in the case Of California and yet
nothing is said about that. Whereas,
| in the case of America. attention Is
conferred there as diversion from
drawing attention 10 the Chinese pol
icy"
American feeling about China was
two-fold Prof Mathews thought.
There was first, the commercial de-
sire expressed in the so-called policy
Of the open door There was also a
sort of romantic feeling for China
and the integrity of that country. l.
was the SAM sort Of feeling that
America had sixty years ago for
Japan. 1t was not a military feel
ing. He could not imagine that the
United States would ever think OF
going to war over the matter, but ran
into a great many other things, all cs
which, tended to head up in the minds
of some Americans In that word
Japanese Imperialism" and the con-
troll of the Pacific.
Prof Mathews left the Unite
States when the Tsingtau situat:,
was very much in discussion. t.
people OF America got an impression
| that the japanese Government prom :
ised to give back Tsingtau to Chin,
he said. There came dispatch in
which it was stated that no such
promise had been given. He thought
he could understand that situation
| He himself did not hink that any
such promise was given except n
terms Of the ultimatum which was d
very different thing from what the
American people thought. Some be-
lieved that Japan was losing the
greatest opportunity that ever came
TO a nation, in its failure to get people
to understand and to act in accord
ance with what Americans thought
was going to be done.
| When Mr.. Bryan announced hat
! there We're twenty -SeNSu VA lNShey
| nine nations who had agreed to peace
treaties, there was a distinct feeling
in the press Of disappointment that
| Germany and Japan would be the two
| nations that had not signed them.
There was also 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 under
! current Of present admiration and real
sympathy and good will for the Won
! Gerful japanese Empire.
He 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
| intelligent classes and Of the religious
classes. and 1 hope that anything that
! I may have said will not destroy the
| true prospects Of good will and de-
sire to cooperate without trace of
desire to force Japan in any way"
Baron Kato thanked Prof. Mathews
| for his frank and straightforward pre-
| sentation Of the views and sentiments