Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-03-22
ATTITUDE Of j. S.
\. TOWARD JAPAN
Professor Smaller Mathews Of Chicago
Responds to Request Of
Japanese Paper.

Osaka, Japan, Feb. 2S.-Before con.
Guiding his visit to Japan In the inter
est OF friendller relations between
this country and the United States.
Prof. Smaller Mathews OF the Unlyer.
sity Of Chicago, met the request OF
the Osaka Asahi for a formal letter
expressing his sentiments as to the
attitude OF the United States toward
Japan. Prof. Mathews visit. as has
been said in these dispatches, has
been notable for the freedom with
which he took up the discussion OF
the American attitude. He was sent
here by the Federal Council Of
Churches OF Christ in America for
that purpose. In his letter TO the
newspaper named he wrote:
1T is with pleasure that / respond
to your request to express my senti-
ments as TO the attitude Of the United
States toward Japan. In so dolng I
am alone responsible for any mistake
in the opinions express.
81. As regards the churches, OF
which am in way representative.
| can say unqualihedly that their mil
lions OF members have n profound in.
terest In and regard for Japan and the
Japanese We mean to help Japan TO
the limit OF our ability and in the way
which the body OF distinguished Japa.
nese Christians may deem best. There
is in America keen sense Of the
significance OF Japan as the meeting
place Of modern thought among Ash.
attic peoples. and we wish to be per.
mitted to help Japan realize her hope
Of helpfulness as expressed by repre-
sentative Japanese. II schools
churches. Christian associations
teachers and pastors can be Of service
to Japan. America. which needs the
same assistance toward morality. will
share them In the future as certainl!
as in the past.
"2. As regards the American PEG
pie as a whole. can affirm the same
attitude. My opinion Is here not one
OF mere speculation. but is based upoI
investigation among leaders OF public
opinion throughout the country. AM
indications OF a contrary spirit ar,
narrowly local and the outcome o
economic conditions and not OF in
ternational ill.will. One OF the mos
distinguished citizens, now Presiden
Of the Republic. has expressed tn
same opinion in a letter to me. whic
have already had the honor Of pre-
senting to the japanese people.
This universal good will can b
trusted to discover some way b
which any misunderstanding tina
may arise can be removed. AS Seer,
tary Bryan has so finely said, Their
is no last word" among friends
= "S. Personally | believe that eac
4 OF our Nations needs TO understan
more accurately the point Of view {
" the other. Japan should sympathiz
/, with the United States as that coul
= try faces the grave and complicate
questions involved In immigration an
the struggle that is now going on
, America as we'll as in Europe betwee
organized labor and great aggreg
tions of capital. Further, II Is desir
o., BILE that Japan understand that u
-. United States has no imperialist
plans. We are a commercial Matte
=, without military ambitions and o
posed to enforcing commerce by wa
To speak OF Americas desire to o
tain territory on the continent
islands Of Asia is absurd We a.
even planning autonomy for u
Philippines.
ION the other hand America meet
TO understand the natural feeling
-, Japan and to accord TO the Japane
= Empire full recognition Of friend
intent and admiration for its ADM
istration Of the gentleman's agre
ments' as to emigration.
ut is my hope that may be alb