The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-09-25

JAPANESE WAR
Declares United States sitting
on Volcano" With Eruption
Due Any Minute.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS,
Istepaatiesal News Service.


Breaking his long silence on the
peril of the Pacific, Richmond Pear
son Hobson. hero of the Merrimac,
author and lecturer, today, In an ex-
elusive interview given the Inter-
national News Service, declared that
II the United States escapes war
over the issues now In dispute be-
tween Tokyo and Washington, il
would do SO only because of Amer
ica's present preparedness and the
Japanese belief that q more favor
able moment may present itself
later on.
"sITTING ON Volcano
Captain Hobson. here attending the
international congress against alco-
holism. when asked to state his vfews
on the present situation. consent ted
to do SO only on the ground of per-
forming a public duty. plus his belief
that to avoid trouble both sides to
II should FIRST frankly recognize It in
time.
"Amereans.- he said, "are sitting
sn . vslcans. asleep.o
'If you think a statement from me
might be helpful In the least degree
In the awakening of my countrymen
TO the seriousness OF the international
situation in the Pacific ocean. Of
course l will comply with your re-
quest"
.Dst J may remark In the begin
Ming that the task Of srs1sing the
PERIL IL sst ealy thanksess bat utter-
" hopeless.
Here II. Warrington recall the
eight long years in which pleaded
with my Colleagues In Congfehs with
So little avaii~ I might refer you to
some or the speeches l made before
them. pointing out that the Pselfic
ocean u . field Of constant peril TO
America, peril thst is liable ~ithsut
warming to become acute.
when l say permanent peril, J.
realize. of course, that America wants
to live in peace and harmony and
good win with all the nations OF the
world: that America is fundamentally
a peaceful nation, a nation without
any military ambitions or desires.
COMMERCIAL RIVALRY FACTOR.
"But the fact remains that In the
Pacific the deep question Of race preju-
dice II combined with the keen ineen-
tive of commercial rivalry. while these
are supplemented by fundamentally
conflicting attitudes toward China
and Siberia.
81 do not mention Korea because
America believes in the promises Of
japan to restore the integrity OF ko-
rea. which America was bound by
treaty to protect.
Il do not refer to the secret de-
mands made upon China in past years
which japan seemingly withdrew. but
which, in reality, she Is continually
and relentlessiy pursuing.
I'VE cannot-ignore the condition Of
public opinion in Japan, nor the voice
of the press of Japan, for. under their
centralized system, these must al
ways, in foreign matters, reflect the
government by whose wishes they
can be controlled.
"The nppPeachinG crisis In the I'm
migration question and the assiusiIs-
tion question may be weathered with
out war. II this proves the case, we
may attribute the fact to our better
preparedness at this time as u result
of the great war. and at the same
time to the sure knowledge of the
astute Japanese statesmen that the
American people, following this war,
arc fast going to sleep. ~ they have
always gone to sleep after other wars.
and n more opportupe time IL ex-
pected later.
"On the other hand, we are rapidly
pushing our program of naval con-
struction mapped out during the war
and, relatively will become stronger
upon the sea during the next three
years or until the big Japanese pro-
gram, adopted at the recent special
session of Congress, is further ad-
vanced and our program is Stacking
again"
Captain Hobson spoke earnestly.
He deplored the war talk. now going
on in japan and repeated his regret
that the necessity OF a warning should
exist in America
Perhaps the people may be a trife
more inclined to listen now. after the
last war" he said. Anyway, let us
hope So"