The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1918-06-29

/ on May Is, 1918, that the Allied gov
ernments had arranged for Entent,
military cooperation to meet the dan
ger to the peace of the Far East by
German penetration into Siberia. The
development of the proposed plan viii
be watched vigilantly by the peoples
of all nations, but it is only one OF
score of weighty problems born in
the Far East. More than ever before
in the worlds history America will
be drawn into the maelstrom of world
politics after this war.
The American people will be de-
manding an Interpretation of the
United States participation in Chinese
affairs. They will want to know what
advances Japan is making in China
They will search the columns of the
daily papers in quest of information
about Japan's attitude toward the
Philippines and Alaska Who will
tell them of conditions in the Phillip
pines and whether the Island should
be granted their independence or not?
1t is to the newspaper men of America
that they will look for instruction.
All of these problems vitality con-
cern the American people as well as
the Chinese, the Japanese and the
Filipinos. Upon their successful solu-
tion rests the future peace of the
world.
In the first place, a better under
standing should be fostered between
the West and the Far East. But"
protests Hamilton Holt, managing edi-
tor of the Independent and chairman
of the press committee of the National
Peace and Arbitration Congress, how
can the people of any two countries
understand each other-or, to be spe-
cific, how can the peoples of China and
America understand each other-if
Chinese journalists are ignorant Of
America and American journalists ig-
norant of China?"
Obviously not much can be accomp-
lished between two men, two lovers
or two nations who are not well ac-
quainted. 1t is only when we do not
know men that we distrust them and
impute to them wrong motives.
Very few America newspaper men
have ever visited China, Japan, the
Philippines and other countries of the
Pacific The most definite ideas they
have, then, are necessarily gained
from such sources as books, chautau-
qua lectures and worlds fair exhibi-
tions. If one is fortunate, he may
make the acquaintance of one or two
people from Eastern
but all of these methods of
one self with foreign
country are like a view gained by
looking through the wrong end of a
telescope. They all lack the vividness
and detail of a first-hand, naked-eye
We write and speak of
the East from a maze of unabashed ig
norance.
If an editor had been so misled on
trip to the Worlds fair and Exposition
held at St. Louis in 1904, as to have
judged the mass of the Filipino people
by the Igorotes and other half bar
barous tribes which amused the fair
visitors by diving into the water for
pennies, we fear for the intelligence of
hat editors constituency upon The
Philippine question.
Is it any wonder, then, that when
misunderstanding arises, erroneous
opinions about China, Japan or the
Philippines, Intentional or uninten-
ional, are rife, and false public senti-
nent is engendered in America that
loes incalculable damage to our good
'elations?
AS a means of remedy for these
prevalent misunderstanding, it has
)een suggested that America and Far
Eastern newspapers could have bet
er informed correspondents. Not only
hat, but they could spend more money
N their news service, probably to
,ood advantage. But the greatest
hing of all which has been suggested
S an exchange of visits of distin-
,uished American and Far Eastern
Suppose the editors or prOprietors
f, say, the thirty leading daily, week
y and monthly organs of American
'ublic opinion were selected to go to
,hina and Japan next year and make
three or four months visit, and that
he following year a number of Chi
ese and Japanese journalists should
e sent to the United States. There is
10 doubt as to the almost incalculable ,
fleet such an exchange would have
n the good relations of the countries, g.,
D say nothing of on the editors them =,
elves.
The financial aspect of the matter ,
light well engage the attention of the
eace societies and commercial Or 6
of China, Japan and Amer ,
"a, which, no doubt, could find ways !
nd means to carry it into effect. /
Most certainly, as the basis to
-iendly relationship between coun-
-ies and as a basis for the future q
eace of the world, by one or all {
these methods, better understand 6