New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-23

TIC the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 81 am no anti-Japanese. nor am !
a lingo, nor a sensaton-monger.'
So states SIR George Bronson Rea, ir the
first Of his letters 20 The Tribune on THE
Attitude of Japan to the United States
Passing his denial that he is a lingo ald a
sensation monger which unasked denlals
have. perhaps, something Of the flavor Of self
accusationI affirm strongly that he is abso-
lately anti-Japanesc, as frankly anti-Japanese
as Captain Hobson. though doubtless for
different reason Hobson used his wlG SEN
sationalism years ago to forward his idea
Of the national preparedness which 10 now
Justly the cry OF nne-tenths Of the nation
in face Of very different foreign situation.
ir. Rea has 10 such excuse for his persist
ont defamatory campaign against Japan
waged in scores of articles IN the American
press within the past siy or eight months.
lie tells US that in The Review" which
he publishes, not edits, at Shanghai, China,
during all the years" Of his residence in
the Orient he barred deliberately
anything which savored of unfriondliness to
Japan" Il may be So but since his Review
mas lived and prospered mainly upon adver-
tisements Of the large exporting Interests Of
America and England, and was and is seeking
circulation among the live manufacturing III
terests Of Japan, may not business cannl-
ness have entered into his deliberate" bar
ring of hostility 70 Japan from its columns =?
He fairly invites the question
Mr.. Rea, in thus opening mp his Chinese
past, surely entities u5 to note that going
only as far bacl. as the revolution which
overthrow the Nanchu cmpcrors. we iac him
holding high Office under sun Vat Sch. the
President oil the now Chinese Republic in its
ideal site phase. and that now ne is in close
relations with the eo;ornmoG; of Yuan shin
kai which has price upon the mead o.
sun Va. Sen. lie can TELL you better than
can what his activities have been since his
return TO America with regard 70 Chinese
Projects in the matter CT American ioars
and commercial exploitation Of China, biects
urobjectionabIe in themselves. so far a.
know. but objects wholly and frankly Chinese.
And it is from this base and standpoint that
he has unremittiagly. bitterly and unjustly
attacked Japan ard the japanese. rs he IS
attacking them now IN The Tribune.
While hold * mauifestly absurd that the
crly way for a publcist TO serve China Is
By incorporating Japan, yet that seems
to be Mr.. Rea's idea and practice. let it
be understood that his vital irritants," as
he aptly calls them. are applied to help China
b. setting. if possible, Japan and the United
States at loggerheads, and a proper discount
may he put upon his narratives and his very
hollow protestations Of impartiality. More
over, The process is distinctly Of Chinese
origin Centuries before the Germans fired
their asphyXiating gas bombs into the
trenches Of the Allies. the Chinese used their
celebrated hand-thrown jars OF evil name
with exactly the same object. approaching the
foe as II holding a gift, ard then smothering
them with escaping gases. 1t was not effective
in winning campaigns then any more than
now.
What is there 20 answer in Mr.. Rca's arti-
ces that have not already appeared in The
Tribune? Nothing TO the levcl-neaded Or
server who knows what interest is behind the
warnings Of motives and tho intentions as
cribed. To the general public. however. tax
ing Mr. Rea at his own rating, guaranteed a.
it were by the hospitality Of The Tribune s
columns. II is a different matter His first lette~
opens with phrase from Count Okuma. which
Mr. Rea traces 10 one OF his Chinese sages
Of long time ago, but which might as aptly
be put in the mouth OF our Secretary OF War
or the King Of Dahomey: ITO know ones
enemy is 10 know ones SELF But it is Mr.
Rea's drop of poison. meant to flavor all
that is TO follow His clear ntimation is that
"the attitude of Japan" toward this country is
the sttitude Of enemy.
Next he serves up the good-hearted un-
suspectinG American. bind 20 everything that
will work him woe from under the pleasant
aspect Of things. Does he not at the start
misjudge and insult American intelligence
Their follow quotations TO show that there is
press censorship in Japan with the sinister
intention Of making japanese government