Evening star., 1917-03-04
GERMAN INTRIGUE
EXPOSED BY JAPAN
Minister Says Berlin Has Re-
peatedIy Tried to Stop
English Alliance.
WANTS FRIENDSHIP OF U. S.

! BY the Associated Press.
TOXIC, March 4, 1920 a.m-An addi-
: tional statement issued by the Japanese
foreign office today refers to frequent at
tempts of Germany ito SOW seeds Of dis
trust between Japan and Great Britain
and to cause the estrangement Of japan
and the United States" and adds:
'"The government Is confident that the
peoples and governments Of the entente
will continue to have confidence in
Japan's loyalty and its determination to
extend all possible aid and share the diff
culties and hardships until the struggle
against Germany and German cruelties
ends"
NJ Shidehara, the vice foreign minister.
continuing, declared that the relations be-
tween Japan and America were entirely
friendly and that Japan hoped to dis
cover a fundamental solution OF the
problems affecting Japanese residents In
the United States. but had not yet found
it.
The Associated Press correspondent called
the attention of the vice foreign minister to
the comments Of several Japanese newspa-
pers. including paper in Osaka: referring
to the alleged menace Of the increasing
, navy of the United States ana TO the
possibility Of a future war between Japan
and that country; also to another COM
tion in America and urging the creation
of identical interests with China by Co
operation, as means Of improving the
chances Of solving all the problems which.
continuing, might lead to war
M. Shidehara replied that the Japanese
press did not represent the opinion OF re-
sponsible Japanese leaders nor influence
| the government, whose constant desire
was friendship with America
Concerning Mexico, he said the japanese
relations with that country were normal
He understood that some Japanese me
| chanics sailed on the kotohira Maru with
machinery chiefly designed Tor M Me4ican aeid
paper mills Mexican agents, he said,
were unable to purchase rifles or war
munitions In Japan.
Ignorant of German Conspiracy.
| Col Manuel Perez Romero. minister
Of the Mexican de facto government to
| Japan. today denied to the Associated
=, Press correspondent all knowledge OF
the German conspiracy. He declared
| that he had conducted no negotiations
on that subject, and that he believed
| Japan wanted only friendship and In
creased commercial relations with the
United States.
Although some groups OF Japanese
profess Pro-German sentiments, diplo-
matic representatives Of tho entente
powers here express the conviction
| is faithful to the entente. but eesenti-
ally prudent in all affairs of state,
seeking to avoid new difficulties in the
present world crisis The Associated
Press correspondent is informed that
Germany unsuccessfully attempted two
years ago to detach Japan from the
entente, and that Japan promptly in
| formed her allies Of 1t. In diplomatic
| circles the latest German conspiracy is
characterized as childish and incom-
prehensible.
Empress Sadako today contributed
100, 900 yen to the national fund for the
| i'll and wounded of the entente powers
The japanese press has for some time
clare war on Germany, and expressing
wonderment at what it describes as
| "the hesitation of President Wilson -
who. the newspapers say, may be try
ing to avoid the responsibility Of be-
ginning hostilities.