New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-20
Americas Allies,
the JapS
Bv Adachi Kinnosuke

ANHEl are
.mes now. the United States and Japan.
They are comrades in arms.
uhge the marriage license bureau was
q .,orned by slackers of the orange-blos-
.,ps there was held at Carnegie Hall
-, little gathering Those assembled
hs Japanese residents of the city, and
-, was the first Saturday following the
4 .-st;on Of war by the United States. Like
~ at the marriage license bureau, it was
.,.busisstic gathering and quite popular.
Il =. ;sea was to raise a force of japanese
.,,.,rs in the United States to serve under
s..rs and Stripes, either here or in Eu-
4. the American government would per-
Mr.. Chugo Ohira spoke in support Of
des.
There are quite number Of us said he,
a.ssipg his countrymen, "who think that it
I, dptv 10 prove that we are not as unde-
As is generally believed. This German
..,can war may give US the chance of
-,.rs years-the chance TO serve the coun-
80 ,,s,r whose protection we are making our
:, We japanese should, and we lCould,
..,,s nron1ptly to the call of America, if the.
= extended TO US And our response is by
-ssns a mere Irritation with American SYM
nv Il comes straight from the japanese
l. Of duty. with which we were born and in
a We have our being. and for which we
eyer ready to lay down our lives. Unless
1, .ske the welfare of the United States to
- even as we would that Of our own home
ID We are not worthy Of the sympathetic con-
.saton Of the American people
i Id. what's more, ne meant what he said.
gs audience heard him. They did not yell
roof of Carnegie Hall; they went on their
r,sl ways rather quietly. But some of them
:. already translated what Mr.. Ohira said
p something much more substantial than
=. patriotic rhetoric. Take the case Of Mr..
ana. He is no romantic scion of rank and
w.h-ro latter-day Lafayette. He is a
rs,g engineer, in the employment of the
vsnghouse Electric Company, and prepar
b ior position which awaits him in Japan.
there be anything in the gossip of his
lad. his personal prospects are as pleasant
l. cherry blossoms along the Sumida River.
b. notwithstanding, this young Japanese en-
inner is eager for a chance to serve. More
t,.sn ,hs,. he is not content with offering his
Iowa services. He is hunting around among
st fellow countrymen, and, as matters stand
fldsy The idea Of a japanese company for the
a-,isi States army is not an idea at ALT
Il donned the flesh and bone of accomplished
f Even before the New York japanese got to-
Ether cable message was sent from Homo
81 u 70 the White House. In Honolulu there Is
association. Its members are Hawaiian
m japanese; they are therefore citizens of
n United States-citizens by birth. They
President Wilson in their cable message
Zee things: First, that they are heart and
/ ~ with him in his statement Of the case
}ahst Germany; second, that they support
universal service bill for the army and the
~; third, that they would respond 10 the
every member Of the association, when the
= for actual fighting should come.
Ind here is the circular letter which the Jap
sse association at San Francisco sent TO
ry-nne Of the sister associations in that
srity:
To-day America faces the gravest crisis IN
p history. And at this time we wish TO pro
an our sincerity toward the United States.
svish to pledge our best efforts in cooperat-
with the people and the government Of the
Tied States, and under the direction OF the
'sAdent Of the United States.
The cause for which America has taken up
ms is as clear as publicity and as noble as it
great: il is for liberty, for justice; it is for
protection Of the rights of humanity. 1t
Sad command the whole-souled support of
e'y human being. But TO US its appeal is
-ea more poignant We and our fellow coun-
7aen live in the United States; our property
our very lives are protected by her. Here
pursue our business in peace and enjoy the
''pness and blessings Of home. And are
As' can there be, any among US who would
mate TO rise to make known whatever OF
1s'ity and courage which are within us that
nght offer them TO this country and do our
ef for the sake Of America?
nat Is not all. Americas entrance into
var puts our imperial country in all the IN
sAe relationship Of new ally to the United
~es. II means that the United States and
''4n are to take up arms, hand in hand, for
indication Of right and justice" And
9 making j; clear that all the Japanese IN
United States should be ready and eager to
aepale IN such defence measure and field
es' II need be, it concludes:
"ewsh in all things to share with the citl-
OF the United States their sorrows and
= joys"