The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-23
Shall FIR MATHEWS AND BARON
KATO DISCUSS RELATIONS OF
UNITED STATES AND JAPAN


sire to cooperate without a trace Oh
desire to force Japan in any way.
Baron KatO thanked Prof. Mathews
for his frank and straightforWard
presentation of the views and senu-
ments entertained by the American
people or a part of them, regarding
Japan.
On his part he wished to seize the
opportunity Of a few remarks con-
cerning the sentiments some Japanese
hold on the subject Of Japanese
American relations.
California Main Trouble.
He was happy to say that, speaking
generally, the relations between ia
pan and the United States were very
intimate and satisfactory. It was only
recently that untoward incidents be-
gan to claim attention, chiefly on ac-
count of the California question. That
question was not, in his opinion, OF
any great importance SO far as the
material interests involved were con-
cerned; neither did he believe that it
would lead to any really serious is
sues between the two nations. Never
theleSS the question was very 1rrl-
tating one to the Japanese. AS a mat
ter OF fact there was no desire on the
part Of Japan to dump any large
number Of her people where they were
not wanted. Japan was prepared to
go long way to avoid unp1eaSantness
with the United States as was shown
by the voluntary restriction Of emigra-
ton to the United States under THE
Gentlemen's Agreement" That ar
rangement had been honestly and rig
orously carried out by Japan, and
| Baron KatO was gratified to know
| that this was recognized by Ameri-
| cans.
Baron kato added: What we re-
gard as very unpleasant about the
| California question is that discrimina-
ton made against our people in dis
/ tinctiOn from some other nations. We
| would not mind disabilities if they
were equally applicable to all nations
| We are not vain enough to consider
| ourselves at the very front Of en-
lightenment; we know that we have
still much to learn from the West.
but we thought ourselves ahead Of
any other Asiatic people and as good
| as some Of the European nations"
Time Necessary To Settle Problems.
The minister admitted that Ques-
| tions like this required time to settle,
but he said Japan would not be salts
fed until the question was properly
settled-as he thought it would be.
AS to Japan's policy in China, Japan
had no idea Of attempting any wan
ton encrOachment upon the integrity
of China or any other nation. Japan
was not without ambitions She had
ambitions-which were altogether
laudable--but he would most empha-
tically declare that those ambitions
did not include any desire to mono
! police interests in China nor for that
matter in the Pacific. Her aspiration
was to get lust that share Of those
interests to which she is rightly en-.
titled. nothing less and nothing more
and her idea was to secure that share
! CxySt IA ,yJf SD,t1 1><o
. Of other nations.
The Tsingtau questions would ht
. settled after the war-how he could
not tell. and did not know. But i
, should be clearly understood that ia
!. pan was absolutely free as to the dis
posal Of the territory in question. Sh,
I had made no promise to ANYBODY t,
| restore Tsingtau to China.
Leaving specific topics, Baron Kat,
asserted that it seemed to him aut
many others. that the Europeans an,
= americans were prone at times to b.
- excessively severe in their criticism
. OF Japan's doings and policy. The
), seemed to set up a standard Of iudg
i ment for the Japa nese much highe
than the standard they themselve
- desired to be Judged by The Jap
" anese had merits and shortcoming e
= just like any other people, and thei
- only wish was that they be Judge
| Wy tlAC w eSlcIn nations as the latte
- Judge one another.
+ No Extreme Ideas
n The minister concluded: II kno,
II that, unfortunately, there are men i
= Japan who hold extreme views bl
a, taking the Japanese people as a whol
r feel safe in saying that the gres
n majority are quite free from any e3
10 treme ideas Of imperialism The
are bent on the development of the
At country along all peaceful lines. The
= only desire to secure their due shal
,e of the good things of the earth"
IN He said his remarks were offere
r in the hope that Prof Matthew
20 might get a correct conception OF tt
n. views Of Japan. and perhaps infor1
IN his fellow Americans
III