El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-20
SAYS AMERICANS
WSHFRIENl5HIP
OF THE JAPANESE
DR.. Smaller Matthews Tells
Japan This Country
Is Her Friend.
THINKS EACH CAN
ASSIST THE OTHER

SAFA. Japan, March 20.-Before
concluding the visit to Japan in
- the interests OF friendlier rela-
tions between this country and the United
states. Prof Smaller Mathews, OF the Uni
versity Of Chicago. met the request Of the
osaka Asahi for a formal letter eX-
messing his sentiments as to the at
tirude Of the United states toward
Japan.
for the freedom with which he took up
the discussion Of tie American alLl-
tude- He was sent here by the Federal
Council Of Churches OF Christ IN amer
lea for that purpose In MS 4eller %
the newspaper named, he Wrote-
1T is with pleasure that i respond
to your request TO express my senI-
ments as 10 the attitude OF the Unlte9
states towards Japan In so dong 4
am alone responsible Tor any mistake
in the opinion I express
Z "As regards the churches, OF which
am in a way representative i can
say unQualiGediy that their millions or
members have a profound interest in
and regard for Japan and the Japanese
We mean TO help Japan to the limit
of our ability and in the way when
the body OF distinguished japanese
Christians may deem best There IS IN
America a keen sense Of the signirlc-
ance Of Japan as the meeting place OF
modern thought among Asiastlc peO-
pies, and we wish TO be permitted 70
help Japan realize her hopes OK help-
fulness as expressed by representative
japanese II schools, churches Chr1s-
ton Associations teachers and pastors
can be Of service 10 Japan, America
which needs the same assistance tow
ard morality, viii share in the future
as certainly is in the past
Americans ns a hole Friendly.
aAs regards the American people as
a whole, / can afrl- N the same atIl-
tude NY opinion is here not one OF
mere speculation, but is based upon
estigatiOn among leaders Of public
opinion throughout the country. ANY
indications of q contrary spirit are
narrowly local and the OutcOre OF eco
tional ill-WilL One OF the most dis
tinguished citizens. now president OF
the republic. has expressed the same
opinion in a letter TO me, which / have
already had the honor Of presenting
to the japanese people
This universal good viii can be
trusted TO discover some way BY which
any misunderstanding that may arise
can be removed. As secretary Bryan
has so finely said, There is no "lasr
word" among friends
Better understanding Needed.
Personally I believe that each OF
our nations needs TO understand more
accurately the point Of view Of the
the United States as that country faces
the grave and complicated questions
involved in immigration and the strug-
gle that is now going on in America
as well as in Europe between organ
lied labor and great aggregauOns OF
capital Further. IL is desirable that
Japan understand that the United
States mas no imperialistic plans We
are a commercial nation without mil
itary ambitions and opposed to enfOrc-
ing commerce by war. To speak OF
Americas desire to obtain territory on
the continent Of islands Of Asia is ab-
surd- We are even planning autonomy
for the Philippines
"On the other hand America needs
to understand the natural feelings OF
Japan and TO accord TO the Japanese
empire full recognition OF friendly in
tent and admiration for its administra-
ton Of the agreement as TO emigration
1T is my hope that I may be able
to assist in bringing about this better
understanding shall have opportunity
to present the sentiments OF Japan TO
American audiences, and shall 90 so
as frankly as i have represented Am
erican good VIII to audiences in Japan.
DR.. Smaller Mathews"