The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-17
"Tilc Yellow Peril"
(Montgomery Advertiser.)

so-called yellow peril by the reve-
lations which have slowly come about
since the beginning of this war.
Things which formerly puzzled and
concerned the American people with
respect to our relations with japan
are now seen more clearly, and is
sues which may yet from time 10
time arise as between this republic
and Japan are bound to be seen
more clearly in their proper proper
tlon than we have been permitted to
see them in the past
1t S essentially right at this time
that the American people should see
the yellow peril as another Ger
man made product-not entirely.
but largely so, for the facts and cir
cumstances which have SLOWLY come
10 light in recent times indicate that
inns is so. If it is a German made
product we shall know better how TO
deal with it. Both the Japanese
leaders and American leaders. in the
light Of that fact, can deal with their
common problems in the future more
frankly and with less suspicion.
Recently the japanese ambassador
at washington asserted positively
that German propagandists are re-
sponsible for the distrust and sus-
picion which has grown up between
the far Eastern empire and the
western republic. These propagand-
lists have antagonized the relations
between the two peoples have per-
sistently and systematically enlarg-
ed upon the supposed irreconcilable
racial and economic differences be-
tween the two peoples.
More recently still, Captain Won
Salzmann, critic and Far Eastern ex-
pert of The Vosschie Zeitung of Ber-
lin, warned his readers that they no
longer have right to count upon a
war between the United States and
Japan, which has become a fixed idea
with the average German and a def
mite element in the governments po-
| ltical calculations. This element
the captain writes, Significantly must
be eliminated, for long time at
least, and Germany instead must
count upon Japan to enter into the
Paris economic agreement and par
ticipate in an anti-German post bell
um business war
Tne abortive but audacious at
tempt of Secretary Zimmerman to
embroil Japan in a war with Mexico
upon the United States is familiar to
every newspaper reader That diplo-
matte stroke failed miserably. Fail
ing there. German diplomacy under
took to induce Japan, to take only a
passive part in the war of the. allies
against Germany OF course in both
cases Germany proposed a trade, but
nothing has come of either proposal
Japan is not taking a vigorous part
III the war, but for other reasons
than the influence Of German diplo-
macy.
Again. what the Japanese con-
science and sphere of interest have
not spared us, our entry into the wal
To l,-
Chicago Tribune.
AT the same time we need not ig-
more the fact that a victorious Ger
many might exercise powerful inilu-
ence in japanese official circles. If
we had not Joined the allied cause. if
we still maintained our isolation.
there is more than a possibility that
formidable conspiracy might have
been launched against us.
"On the other hand, by entering
the war we have not only strength
ehed the entente but our owp po-
sitlon, with respect to Japan. Japan
can now have no possible motive for
dcserting the allies. German in
trlsue to induce Japan to take of
fensive measures against us must fall
of its own weight"
1t is known now that Bernstorffs
mighty army of agents and propa-
gandists We're busy little agtators of
the Anglo-Jap controversy for several
years past. Americans had no reason
To suspect any such intrigue prior to
the war, but they now know positive
ly that. the German agents were sup
porterS of firm American policy
with respect to Japan during the con-
| troversy over the California alien land
question. We also know that these
agents feared for the future safety
| IN OF