The Washington times., 1915-02-20
FACING TWO CRISES,
J., 5, IS PREPARING
Fear That China May Lose
Sovereignty Through Neigh.
bor's Action Is Felt.
CONTINUED from First Page)

to persistently lessen the influence OF
other countries.
4. 1t has been charged that Japan
presented to China a series Of twen-
ty-one demands OF this sort. while
notifying other powers with Chinese
interests of only eleven OF these de-
mands. This naturally has aroused
concern as to whether japan has been
attempting to gain advantages over
other countries.
8. IT is known that for q long time
explaining to the world that the Pana-
ma canal, owing to the Culebra slides.
was not In codnition to pass war ves-
sells Of great draught: That this ex-
suspected; and the explanation which
diplomatic conjecture has considered. Is
that the United States does not desire
to decide the conditions under which
warships Of other powers may use the
g. Sun Vat Son. chief apostle Of revo-
luton In China. now exiled. has for a
long time been living In japan. and 10
understood to be trying to enlist the
modernization OF the Chinese nation.
l. The present would be a most op-
Fortune time for japan to initiate
measures calculated to bring on a crisis
In China. while other powers have their
hands full elsewhere.
Grave Concern Felt.
Relations with Germany have been
giving grave concern to American au-
thorities lately. 1t is not necessary
here to recount the elements OF dam
ger which have been conceived to re-
side in them.
1t happens. however. that at the very
moment when relations with Germany
and the other European powers at war
approach their crisis. Japan appears
as az agsressor in China, apparent.
IN 1908 she entered with the United
States. While nobody is willing Off
cialIy to- reflect on the good faith OF
Japan. the coincidence is regarded as
That various developments have pro-
foundly impressed the Washington
Government with the gravity OF the
present international situation Is In
Is persistent report. despite reassur-
ing official statements. tLat extraor-
dinary activity is afoot in the arsenals
and navy yards of this country. These
they could be rated as nterallj accu-
rate, would be calculated to give alarm;
such as that the American navy is be-
ing prepared for any emergency that
may arise.
Ex.SOldiers Questioned.
Today brought knowledge that the
war authorities had sent out a general
letter to former soldiers. asking infor-
nation as to their service and their i'm
mediate superiors, apparently with the
view to learning their advisability and
qualifications for service II there should
arise sudden need for them.
It Is also stated that Washington has
called upon its ambassador In Tokyo
and its minister at Peking to report
exactly the facts concerning both the
japanese and the Chinese view of the
demands that Japan has made upon
China. Such inquiries would seem to
indicate that the United States wants
TO know. first. whether Japan has in
formed the other powers Of the exact
terms of the demands which were made
at Picking; and. second. whether those
derstanding of the 1908 agreement be-
tween this Government and the Tokyo
government
The agreement Of 1908 bound the
United States and Japan to exchange
views who never conditions should arise
definition Of the mutual understanding.
The feeling in Washington is that Japan
has advanced pretensions in China
which exceed the reasonable construc-
ton OF her understanding about CO.
operation with the United States.
Must Respect Possessions.
The 1908 grcemcnt between the two
countries declared that "Thcy are frmly
to respect the territorial possessions
belonging to each other in the said re-
gion"-that is. the Pacific.
1t also declared that: They are de-
termincd to preserve the common in
terest of all powers In China by sup
porting by all pacific means at their
disposal the independence and integrity
of China and the principle OF equal OPP
portunity for commerce and industry
Of all nations in that empire
This is regarded as the real guarantee
Of the "open door, in China. The open
door principle was developed by the
diplomacy Of Hay and reinforced by
that of Mr.. Root when later he was
Secretary Of State. Infringement of
that ideal by Japan would Undoubtedly
be highly disconcerting to the United
States The menace of such infringe
ment. at a time when American atten-
ton Is directed so strongly to main
tenance Of our rights in European
waters. is at least a matter Of deep con
cern. 1t Is reported. moreover. that the
British government, though the Of
fensivc and defensive ally OF Japan has
been moved to request explanations of
the japanese intentions.