Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-30
Friction With japan

, | Is particularly unfortunate at such n time
as inns when larger issues are before the
allied powers, that misguided or malicious
Japanese propagandists should commit out
RACES against American soldiers and Amer
lean missionaries i'll Korea and Siberia. These
outbreaks may not be serious in themselves
They may be in the class of street brawls and
as such might be put down with satisfactory
explanations on all hands. but they have
come al the wrong time. il they had to come
at all. They have come when Japan is de-
handing that race determinations be barred
in the league of nations: at time when the
future OF China is being determined and the
Russian problem is giving the world renewed
concern. Into all these important questions
Japan naturally projects itself.
America must sit in Judgment on the pro-
posals which Japan has made. 1t must act
with its associates in fixing a policy that must
govern future relations between the Oriental
races. 1t must take up the questions which
Japan has raised giving them careful study
and judicial consideration. But this will not
be possible if American public opinion is
intamed against Japan. 1t will not be pos
sible if Japanese propagandist create diff
hculties in the Far East and bring about a
series OF clashes between Americans and
Japanese. 1t will not be possible if the anti
Japanese agitators in this country get into
alarmist reports
Already there is evidence of a revival of
the ant-Japanese sentiment in America
This sentiment was repressed to a large e1-
tent while the war lasted. 1t was felt gen
orally to be unpatriotic to promote distrust
OF nation associated with in war, and
though there we're many millions of people
in this country who did not believe that
Japan was doing its full share toward the
defeat OF Germany or was playing the game
on a basis of good faith respecting either
China or Siberia most Of these people we're
willing to keep their convictions to them
selves until peace should come or some overt
act Of bad faith was discovered
This restraint is removed Tho war
is over. even If formal peace has not been
declared. The miltarist party in Japan is
engaged in bitter attacks against America
and is fomenting i'll feeling against Ameri-
cans in Korea and Siberia. The American
military policy is being assailed and the pres
ent government OF Japan is being hard
pressed by the opposition on the ground that
it is prepared to surrender to the United
States on all matters in conflict between the
two countries.
1t is not Il comfortable situation or
course, there is nothing to be feared from
Japan. That country is not disposed these
days to pick a real quarrel with America
All that sort OF bluffing ceased to count when
the United States two years ago went on a
war basis and astoundcd the whole world
by the extent to which it could go when it
had an enemy to deal with. But ii is not
pleasant to have a controversy with Japan,
ana 1t would be unwise if the allies. as a
group, should place that nation outside the
pale, giving it an excuse for turning to Ger
many, and possibly to Russia for support and
a possible alliance.