New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
Democrats Allow Califor-
MIA Unions to Insult
Japan, He Says.
"GIVE UP PHILIPPINES
OR GOVERN THEM"
T.R. Tells London Papers Cor
respondent German Victory
Means War with u. S.

London. Jan. THE Morning Post"
publishes to-day long interview which
rs special correspondent. Ernest A.
Belcher. had with Theodore Roosevelt
recently st Oyster Ray. When asked
for his views the cN-prcsident replied:
81 am just a plain American citizen
and can say anything / Ike about any
subject In the world, so fire away"
81 asked him first 20 give his views
on the American foreign policy, par
uculsrly as II affected the Far East"
says the correspondent.
"Lsmentable.' he exclaimed. Eng
sad has made some bad blunders IN
foreign policies. sec by to-day's
pspers Won are remedyiug one OF long
standing by proclaiming proteotorate
over Egypt, but, comparing your blum
ders with ours IS like comparing the
English Channel with the Atlantic
Ocean. Your channel has hitherto al
lowed YOU 10 tolerate your Kerr Har-
dies. You may imagine what the At
lsntic Ocean makes us put up with.
Take the question Of Japan. ] am
convinced that the only way 20 deal
with Japan is by = combination OF
frmness and courtesy. That Is my
reason for concluding an agreement IN
1907 for the absolute exclusion OF fur
ther japanese labor from the Pacific
Coast. but otherwise we must use the
most scruuulOus courtesy in our deal
;ngs with q highly civilized ard SEN
s;tive nation Our relations with
Japan we're then perfectly cordial, be
cause we we're agreed upon reciprocal
treatment. ! knew then cultured Jap
anese gentlemen who might mix on
PERFECTLY equal terms with any Ameri-
can. and / wanted Japan to know we
would welcome her students, her traN-
oilers. her scientists and ner business
arms or an absolutely reciprocal ba-
sis. but now. whether dealing with
Japan or any other nation, We have
neither frmness nor courtesy.
"The Democratic party is so afraid
AZ the labor vote that 70 allows the
unions Of California 20 insult Japan;
then we give illusory promises OF pacl-
fc intentions from Washington. OF
course. we are pacific. but our present
policy is criminal. There is no doubt
(, is 80 when our navy is totally made
quate for defensive purposes. What
ear YOU expect when the Secretary Of
state lives in the clouds; no, not in
clouds. but in a world Of tenth rate
fiction?
81 asked Colonel Roosevelt whether
he was aware Of the pledges of can
didates for the California Legislature
with reference 10 the proposed amend
ment 70 the alien land bill. He made
a note Of the figures and agreed that
the situation was disquletlng, though
he did not consider II serious.
"'You cannot he said, prevent some
ho.-bea6aI member from bringing in
another b.ll in January, but 1t VIII NOT
pass
Il urged +hst in the policy of recip-
rocsl treatment lurked the real eco
nomical difficulty in Japan, and IN
stanced the comparison of population
figures ner square mile for American,
Jspauese and British dominions.
"Don't take the whole British En-
pire' said the ex-President, take Aus
tralia or New Zealand. What is the
population per square nile IN those
Countries
81 confessed the figures we're lower
than for the whole empire"
Exactly, and does Australia or New
Zealand want japanese labor? Of
course not. Well, Australians view is
the view Of the Pacific Coast. You
may call these countries empty now,
but We want them for the expansion
Of the English speaking races, and you
win never get an Australian or New
Zeslander, Californian or Canadian to
think otherwise. You remember when
our feet went around the world?
Where do you think it got the warmest
welcome? Why, in Australian waters.
and what was the reason? Because Of
the opinion in your southern seas that
the American navy with o strong Aus
trslisn squadron Is the best guarantee
for the peace of the Pacific"
Mr.. Roosevelt smiled at the idea OF
Japanese duplicity A steady, relent-
less hatred Of Germany for the last
nineteen years was the real reason for
Japan's entry into the war. He saw no
reason why Japan should not keep