Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-10-26

not been mentioned at all.
Japan comes seeking the friend
ship of the United States because she has not an
other friend in all the world because she occupies
a position of cruel and dangerous isolation. Her
statesmen when they look forward to that day
of the congress of nations which shall remake a
tortured world know that things stand now
they will find at the council board suspicion
where they desire sympathy. They know that
there is none to whom they turn with any
comfortable certainty of support-unless it be
America. Can they win the friendship of Amer
lea, a friendship based mutual trust and liking?
Only such friendship will avail them.
Official Records Ignore Isolation
The story of the isolation of JAPAN of the
paradox of the member of the great alliance
against the central powers who is without
friend, is not to be found in official documents,
but its truth is nevertheless indisputable
When war came, three years ago. the states
of Japan believed that Germany would be
defeated in six months. In other words, they
played" the allies to win, and win quickly, and
they acted accordingly. They demanded the evac-
uation of Shantung by Germany, they invested
and took Kiaochau, and they made naval dispo-
sitions in the waters of the far East which
of undoubted assistance to the British admiralty.
The aggregate effort involved relatively small,
but it ranged Japan, her statesmen thought, ons
the winning side, and they felt they could afford
Indifference TO the bitterness and the hostility
r~sAa Japane Early Part in the War.
Then, as the months went by, with their ever
recurring stories Of German success on land, the
statesmen of Japan haunted by the fear that
they had backed the wrong horse. Little by little,
therefore, they allowed the ardor of their cham
pOnShip of the allied cause to weaken. The gov
eminent of Japan did not move much as it's
little finger when powerful section of the press
over which it exercises complete control became
openly contemptuous of the chances of Entente
victory, when the attacks upon Great Britain grew
daily In volume and bitterness, when the Anglo
japanese was 1outed and a strong pro-German
tone became everywhere apparent. Nor did the
government of. Japan associate itsef-save IN
tardy and lukewarm way-with the commercial
measures against Germany which the allies con-
certed and carried out. Japan in those days Of
fered the extraordinary spectacle OF country at
war with Germany, but notably proGerman In
feeling Small wonder that, as this condltOn OF
affairs and it's inner meaning came home to Great
Britain and France, they grew suspicious and re-
sentfuI.
Developments outside Japan were not of a sort
TO allay this suspicion and resentment. In
Kiaochau and throughout Shantung 1T soon be
came clear that Japan intended long stay. and
nronosed also that much more than the lions
share of the benefit of that stay should accrue to
her The British and the French found a hundred
little hindrances there-nothing large enough in
any single instance to make dign1hed complaint
nossble but enough all told to exert very pow
erful effect.
Tn China generally, the allies of Japan had to
reaIize that their preoccupation with the conduct
of the war Furnished opportunity which Japan
nronntly and very -cynically took. Japanese ag-
erosion became more marked than ever. Japanese
demands upon poor, disrupted China were unend-
.o The nations of Europe, and with them the
rrn;ted States could nothing in this but
desire on the part of Japan to make profit out OF
+ba en,barrassments of others-a selfish and I'M
;,c+ nroft said the embittered critics The states
mon of Japan were Indifferent to this criticism.
q,hav saw German victory approaching, and they
,vora strengthening themselves against that day.
For they had another card up their sleeve.
srhev had before them the possbility-ndeed, 1t
was at one time a probabiity-that separate
paaca would be concluded between Germany and
RusSia and that Immediately thereafter a Ger
Rnssian-J japanese alliance would be con-
r,rdad q nact between countries contiguous in
territory plunderbund to be conducted on the
autocratic principle TO which all were loyal.
MachiavelIianism Astray.
And tbe months wore on, however, and 1916 drew
.o o close this faith in full German victory weak
anpd The strategy of the allies was increasingly
coherent and effective, the Britain they had con
dan,ned was making gigantic EFFORT ana was
ocbiaving an unexpected and admirable national
ficiencv and there was anxiety in the counclis OF
Tokyo They had antagonized Germany they nat