Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-30

, But the mischief been done
crob . camnaign continued through years. can nN
fail of it's effect 1t must be borne in mind that az
the nfty-four million Japanese the great majority reaA
nothing but vernacular press OF their district
such of them as read all. Among the hlterate, 1t
is the of that same vernacular press
that is spread by word of mouth There Is no reason
whatever for the lowerclass Japanese 10 DOUBT tne
1itaraI accuracy reads in his papers They
are his only of information about world events
If they tell that ts United States is maciously
interfering kn he sminently just and laudable plans
AZ ths AuapssS which is with him not only as
a matter OF Iaariotisnn religion, he accept the
statement without question
Notbinp has been done dispe the impression thus
created While actual Indictment of hostility has
abated the public mind is left with the totally error
neous impression America regards herself as the
enemy of Japan. strong public sentiment has been
worked UP against the United States The lid Is On
now but the pot is still boiling
Almost remarkable this state OF affairs has
been the attitude the American public If the En-
glsh press with hostile comment. II the
Germans published yearbook stating openly that
they were planning their with view to possible
conflict United States. if the French press
proclaimed that blocking at every turn the
manifest mission France. if the newspapers of the
Argentine shreked that had imperial designs
South America and called all loyal Argentinos to
beware. would certainly sit and take notices at
least would freely discuss this regretabe
misunderstanding, and ask When the
Japanese press lines similar all of these why
do ignore the whole question?
1t is due largely to the American pub
knows little 1t. News emanating from Japan
peculiarly under official control because the
Japanese newsgathering agency, the Kokusai, which
corresponds to Associated Press and similar
CARNATIONS America, and to Reuters in Europe. is
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS institution The japanese
in itself effective for large OF
what forward
One very significant stands upon considera-
ton of the attitude of the Japanese and people
through all these years 1t is that, properly
sidered. explains good DEAL and ought to be
mind in studying relations with Japan.
The Japanese overestimate Importance we
tach to them and to their projects the of
people has been given totally idea
attitude toward the far question. They see in
the Asatc continent hotbed of interests
and they somewhat hastily it granted that
there lies Americas most vital and primary interests
also.
To characterize such a notion as erroneous is NOT
imply States underestimate the i'm
portance of the principles at stake in It
mean that the Japanese press Intentionally or
wise. has not got the true perspective
views and ambitions the spreading of this
misrepresentation fertile source of unfrendIiness
For illustration, take the following from Chuwo
February 1st discussing the Philippine situation.
Especially America is innning toward imper-
aIism is trying extend her to the Orient.
it would be blow to her lose the Philippines"
And from the very powerful Nichi Nichi, January
S0th America is fastening her defense works in order
to further her ambition in this respect that she
overwhelm Japan with her navy and compel Japan
to sit quietly by while she makes a dependency Of
China by means of her wealth." The absurdity OF
such views of ambitions does make the state
ments less harmful in their effect the Japanese
people To tell the Japanese have imperial
ambitions in Asia is the surest to stir feeling
against And it impossible that the men who
wave the scare-head really believe it themselves
upshot the whole cloud of representation and
Misrepresentation is simply ths;-that Japanese public
turned strongly hostile toward America
Such being case is important that the American
people realize it. 1t is fact to be remembered in
all our dealings with Japan