Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-10-12
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Relations With Japan Becoming
Badly Strained Though There
Is No Danger of War.
TOKYO LEARNS U. S. STAND
Disclosures Of crookedness in Organ
lied Baseball Arouse Indignation
and Grief-PoIes and Baron
Wrangel Still Driving the
Reds-Moscow Eager
for Peace.
BY EDWARD w. PicKARD.

by EOWARD w. PICKAHD.
Despite the undoubted fact that the
governments of the United States and
Japan are earnestly striving to arrive
ut an amicable settlement of their diff
ferences, the relations between the two
nations are becoming more strained
daily. This does not mean that hos
tilties will ensue-such an eventual
ity is almost out of the question-but
the situation is giving undesirable OPP
portunity to the alarmists and the
jingoes of both countries and is real
ly worrying the statesmen and those
directly interested in international
commerce.
The administration at Washington
has sent to Tokyo communication
stating just how far 1t Is willing to
go TO meet the desires of the Japan
csc, and this proposition was taken
under consideration by the Japanese
cabinet. At neither capital was any
information given out as to the con-
tents of the American note, but it was
reported in Washington that one Of
the fundamental considerations insist
ed upon by the administration is that
Japan shall give new guarantee
against immigration, in the form of
an amendment either to the existing
treaty or to the "gentlemen's agree
ment" under which since 1907 Japan
has undertaken to prevent the emigra-
ton Of laborers to America.
If Japan agreed to accept any such
amendment, 1t probably would be to
the gentlemen's agreement, for the
japanese people would scarcely stand
for formal treaty by which they, al
most alone, would be set apart as un-
desirable immigrants into America.
If Japan cannot bring about definite
settlement Of the trouble at this time,
she desires at least to reach an un-
Outstanding that will quiet the talk
Of Japanese domination In California
and induce the people Of that state to
reject, at the coming election, the pro-
posed new alien land law which is the
cause Of most Of Japan's protests.
The adoption of that law was pre-
vented last year by the administration,
but whether this could be done again
Is problematical
We have thought In America that
the japanese people were considera-
bly, wrought up over this question, but
according to Marquis Okuma, former
premier. they are not sufficiently
aroused. 1t is now announced in
Tokyo that Okuma is going to devote
himself to awakening the Japanese
people against "the unlawful attitude
of California Americans" and that
he will call a meeting of 100 leading
statesmen and other prominent citi-
Eens to exchange views on the subject.
The marquis says his fellow country
men are becoming weak and coward
~, like the Chinese, are Indifferent to
grave questions affecting the nations
interests. and that a strong, unified
national opinion must defend the in
terests of the Japanese in California.
He preficts that unless something is
done TO check the Californians. there
will arise similar state of affairs In
Canada. Australia, New Zealand and
other British dominions.
That the Japanese already are re-
taliatine in such ways as are open to
them Is indicated by correspondence
between Secretary of Commerce Al
exander and Chairman Benson of the
shipping board. Mr. Benson called to
the att>ntion of Mr.. Alexander in
stances Of Japanese procedure at
Kobe amounting to discrimination
against American shipments to the
Far Fart. In reply Secretary Alexan-