The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-08-28
WHAT SHALL We
SAY TO JAPAN'S
MISSION HERE?
Now Is Time to Discuss Issues
Existing Between Japs
and u. S.
(By Henry A. Wise WOODY

here and the attention of the public
will for b few weeks be focused upon
trans-Pacific affairs. a frank discus
sion Of some of the questions that lie
at the root of -our relations with Jap
an would seem to be in order.
1t goes without saying that we well
come with especial pleasure the dis
unguished representatives of the is
land empire which Joined the COM
munity of nations upon our invitation
and has since become one of its great
and useful members.
We cannot forget that of the ro-
mances of American history none is
quite so rep1ete with enchanting ina
gerry as that which deals with the
opening of Japan. The meeting on
the shores of Uraga Bay of Commo-
dore Perry, his staff and bluejackets.
with the high dignitaries of this ex-
traordinary and accomplished people,
sixty-four years ago the 14th of July
last. is like scene from the fairy
books. 1t was nothing less than the
ceremonial visit of representatives of
the nineteenth century made to those
of the seventeenth, for the purpose of
inviting the latter to step lightly over
the intervening epochs and enter the
present, clad in the fun panoply of
the worlds most picturesque mediae-
valism- Ia
States there is ineed . sentimental tie
wholly unique among nations, one not
to be touched urgently by the
thoughtful publicist save upon the
most substantial grounds of public
need This writer fully perceives; but
he sees also that events in the East
are taking on a sinister aspect for
the United States and the Anglo-Sax-
on peoples of the Pacific, and he be-
lieves that unless correctives are
promptly applied we soon shall find
ourselves shorn of rights and SAFE
guards in the Pacific basin to obtain
which American blood and treasure
and enterprise have. been lavishly
spent,
Therefore, and SO, that by frank
speaking the issue shall be met and
disposed OF before 1t shall have crys-
tallized into "a difference irreconci1-
able save by armed conflict, the wri-
ter. with great reluctance, he con-
fesses, has decided to deal with it.
In its eastern policy the Japanese
government is entering upon an ex-
petition In diplomacy which. if per-
sisted in. c-rrct fail to bring it into
collision with the United Stsies jar
an. Hike all other, nations, must know
that Americas consciousness of its
position ard rights in the world at
large Ia certain after the war to be
not less. but more keeniy sensitive
than ever 1t has been In the past
We have noted with establishment
that the japanese government is at,
tempting to set up over China pro-,
tActorate. and with, grave concern
have read the report that recently 1t
nded our, state Department
for COMMUNICATING directly with the
of China upon a matter
purely of Chinese concern. We have
not forgotten that for many years the
United States has been China's closest
friend and most anselfislf adviser;
that rpon MANY occasions il has been
our duty to Intervene. on behalf of
the preservation of the administrative
entity 81 China. and that the preser-
walton of the "open door, in China
whereby every nation; is entitled to
share the frsedom of trade enjoyed
Nv anv---ss a cardinal point in Ameri-.
can foreign policy. These gains of
the wears in national comradeship and
commercial freedom Americans as
suredfy WIN refuse to surrender, and
may be counted upon to defend the
moment IL is clear that they are
threatened rs
or the policy of the "open door, in
China-to which Great Britain freely
and other nations erudgingly assented
-Johnson. I'm his american Foreign
Relations. --says:
No matter what Sphere or 1nflu-
ence>-any power claimed. it was not
TO interfere with any treaty port or
vested interest of other powers there
inc the Chinese tariff was to continue
in force and to. be administered by
Chinese officials: and there was to
be no discrimination against any ma
ton or In favor of any nation in mort
d,,.s or railroad ratios
n NAV he accented without oues-
sfor that America viii graduate. from
4be war tha >rorld,s crief nroduc;ne
ana trading nation needing and
,aach,,,1 gr+o &C never bafora avar,
@o-sien rsrL.+ snd that II win ner,
enontori1v refuse 70 surrender q sin
gle ira ding nrivilepe which hitherto #
has endowed in china or elsewhere.
Upon sentimental and moral
grounds a. wen the nroiect Of Janan
collides with our views IT must he
remembered that China e. orr nro-
+e~a IN the .ansa +h.+ b.vino "a
cant,v aaontad or g., - e-o,-a,-,,-
~,s.-,t a. ~. $500. : ,.t,;e Tt,a
Ay,er,car I,a,rle ~ 20 sa,+iv,a,,+a1
st.ke q, 4he rrese,-va+io, - Sc ;rde-
-,sndance tbsv Iilrs +ba c,h,nasa ~
-