The Washington times., 1917-09-05
j. S. TO REQUEST
JAPAN TO SHIFT
I. SHIPS TO ATLANTIC
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Continued from Page One)


ing the war. Nothing has been said
to the American Government about
political questions. And ]. r. Ken
nedy, an American newspaperman,
who came from Tokyo with the Jap
enese mission, and who wrote an
article recently that seemed to reject
the views OF Viscount Ishii is au-
-thority for the statement that the
Japanese do not feel that as guests
Of the United States they ought to
broach any questions, political or
otherwise. that are not suggested by
the American Government.
And so far as the United States is
concerned, there appears TO be no dis
position in Government circles here
to open Up tangled political prob
rlems relating either TO the future OF
China or the status Of the Pacihc
islands wrested from Japan by Ger
many. Such an attitude is based
upon the theory that discussion
would awaken dIssenslon and that 1t
swould not be conducive to war CO.
operation any more than a discussion
of the various war aims OF Individual
members OF the entente could at the
.present stage OF the controversy lead
TO good feeling. The entente in Eu-
rope is postponing such questions un-
til the peace conference, and as far as
the Far East is concerned, the likeli-
hood is that American statesmen
would want to DO the same thing, par
ticularly because the United States
does not feel that the Chinese ques-
ton belongs 10 her for adjudication
with Japan any more than IL belongs
to Great Britain, France, and Russia
20 Perhaps the Japanese would be hap
by II they could take back to Japan
assurances concerning this Govern
ment's future policies in the Far
East, and there is nothing given out
by the Administration to show that IL
will or will not discuss these delicate
broblems, yet II would not be sur
lRrising II political questions were
touched upon in only the vaguest and
most casual way.
An Empty rhrase.
= What then will the japanese mis-
Sion do? Cooperation in the war"
Is not an empty phrase. The Japan
ese are vitality interested in that CO.
operation because IL relates closely TO
Industry, trade, or commerce. The
United States recently placed an en-
barEo' on steel plates for ship con-
Itruction. Japan had been prepar-
Sng a merchant ship program not
of the scarcity of tonnage today but
20 be ready for trade opportunities
after the war. Americas embargo
seriously affects Japan. II America
persisted IN being selfish about the
steel plates, Japan might md herself
compelled to get steel in China. OF
she might become very spathetic
about assistance to Russia
80 far as can be learned. there is
no disposition here to keep steel
plates from Japan or from private
frms in England and France for the
sake simply Of building up Americas
merchant marine. The Government
today permits expectation even to
European members Of the entente IL
the purpose is construction for the
allied governments.
Must Divert Tonnage.
But IL an Arrangement is made per-
mHtinE steel plates to 60 to Japan.
the United States Shipping Board un-
doubtedly will insist that Japan d.
vert tonnage to the Atlantic. That is
fhe place where Japan can cooperate
with the allies most effectively
carrying foodstuffs and supplies 80
that more American and British
ships can be released TO transport
troops and munitions.
NO-opNIaNlOuf AhGnf ~ DeBluhlnk u
mean quid pro quo. The japanese
will receive tonnage II they will come
into the Atlantic and help carry freight.
They will then get ship plate. Hol-
land was the other day granted GER
fain quantities OF food by the United
States provided Dutch ships first went
20 Java to get sugar needed by the
entente.
There is no discrimination-simp
an insistence that America will not
give OF her resources as heretofore
without making everything count to.
ward the effective prosecution of the
war. This undoubtedly can be
worked out with smoothness between
the japanese mission and the Ameri-
can Government. No one anticipates
dissension or difficulty
The relations are cordial and
friendly. Only the prolonged enter
tAinment will continue to cause Won
der, and give rise to a variety OF
rumors unless the business OF CO.
operation Is tackled very soon.