Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-27
; ~ FREDEhro J. HAsKIN

WY AsHINGToN. June 22-Has the European war.
wv along with the guerilla fighting in Mexico.
served to turn American attention from the
issue most vital American well-being-vital even
American safety? Have we become so absorbed in
the European drama that we stand all unconscious
while the Orient stage is set for drama where
we may no longer be spectators but leading players
with Iife-anddeath interest in the issue of the plot?
That such is the is the sober opinion of some
of the keenest and experienced students Of the
far situation Their reiterated assertions as
dangerous of affairs in the east Is causing
Americans to turn eyes inquiringly across the
Pacific spite of many from other author
tiles, who ridcue any talk of serious trouble as
hybrid creature of the lingo and the yellow press
we are faced by necessity of action to avert
situation where shall have to choose between war
surrenderng certain of rights then such action
will have motivated primarily by the attitude OF
American people. 1t follows that knowledge or
Of affairs is essential to every citizen
for variety of reasons that knowledge is one OF
the hardest thing in the world to get
1t is hardly possible for any European country long
keep the state of it's public opinion toward
the States. Take the of Germany, for in
stance when from time there arises the ques
ton of strained relations points of international
of correspondents keep posted on every
new of feeling in the German national mind We
know how the German people receive our suggestions
and offers almost we know how the Amer
lean nation a whole regards them. 1t would be I'M
possible Germany any other European nation to
adopt a national attitude that would take by
prise. With Japan the case is fundamentally and
fatally different.
Japan a nation that speaks language totally
different from that 1t is immense a
American to learn it, and that comparatively few
undertake Japans written word is built a system
basically opposed script; 1t for
an alien to master than the language. AS a result
Anar VIII are few nd he
tween, Americans who read 1t fewer and farther Add
the fact that Japan has today the srctest and
most effective of press censorshps, and two facts
become evident:
First that behind the wall of alien tongue
forced by censorship, almost anything might be
whatever does get published in Japan
yellowest section of the has certain smack
of the authoritative that similar in this
country would lack because Japanese paper
been passed by the official
The significance of this state of affairs as applied
to the United lies fact that obges
to give different reception to from Japan, which
at first glance almost incredible, than would
give t. similar from any other country If
were told that public sentiment in Germany or Russia
had shifted few years from friendly attitude to
one violently hostile that this change being DELHI
eratey encouraged least section the govern
ment and with sinister purpose. would justified
in laughing. When the same charges made by
of high standing, they made, against Japan
II is charged and backed up by quota
tions from Japanese vernacular and English
that there deliberate campaign going forward in
Janan to arouse anti-American sentiment throughout
tbe nation 1t is Americans that there has
beAn an increasing lack of cordiality in Japanese
American relations but that affairs have come to the
non where United States ts conceived in the pop
la mind as Japan's active opponent logical
enemy does come news, and news of a somewhat
startling character
s,a ~. eide with this campaign plant hostility
AGAINST America it is charged that parallel
oamnairn is being conducted in America campaign
whose object to spread abroad In the United STATES
80 idao that Japan only the friendliest in
tentions toward campaign. in other words to lu
o, suspicions to discourage any tendency Americans
NOV have toward making preparations for possible
emergency. Thus should the clash come and neither
Side give ground hercely inmicaf and heavily armed
1++le empire would have to deal with big, unready
rAnublic whose national attitude toward her antagonist
o,1d hest have been described of complete in
diference The issue of such possible conflict is not
pleasant to consider
:. =, fact that except along the Pacific coast and
.in tracts of the Rocky Mountain region, American
ceiling toward Japan has vacillated between rather
continental sympathy, an honest admiration ana a
80 indifference on the other hand Japan has never
reearded us with indifference. We have. from the be-
o,nnng of her modern era, filled much larger place
a Ar national outlook than she has occupied in ours
Aroericans were concerned primarily with domestic
AFFAIRS and then with touching other nations
on the American continent and european powers
Asiatic world politics traed along a third. In
Japan's scheme of things, the United States often
occupied place, and never sank below rank Of
high importance. At the same time the merciless
ogc of conflicting necessities several times forced
across the path of the island empire and made APP
near to her people in the light of barrier between
them and their destiny.
Even now the United states remains in two stands
a;aoatricallv opposed to the wishes and policy of
Tanan The solution each of these deadlocks it has
been Significantly explicitly stated is merely post
noned The present status in each has been