The New York herald., 1921-10-17


tung. Siberia. Yap. Diplomatic OBJ
servers do not entertain any doubt
that the people of the country are
behind their Government in this
respect. There is no greater offence
In the minds of the Japanese generally
than to suggest that Japan be de-
prived of those advantages on the
Asiatic mainland or in the Pacific
which her people sincerely believe are
accomplished facts"
The line Of differentiation IS drawn
at the arms limitation project. because
about one-half Of the newspapers and
probably great majority of the people
are In favor of a reduction Of arma-
ments as a matter of economic ex-
pediency. and the impression generally
prevailed at Toxic in early September.
that Japan would coincide with the
universal policy which is expected to
be decided at Washington, and for the
first time fall into line with other
nations.
Know They Are Distrusted.
One Of the surprising features OF
Japanese psychology is that most Of
the leading men of the empire and the
important merchants know that their
countrymen as q whole are disliked
The unpopularity Of Japanese as I'm
migrants in the United States, Canada
and Australia, and the positive hatred
of the Chinese and Coreans for their
powerful neighbor have not permitted
any doubt OF it.
The Marquis Saionji, who Is one of
the most powerful of the ''Elder States
men" in the Genro. startled his coun-
trymen on his return to Toxic from
the Paris Peace Conference two years
ago by deploring the fact that Japan
had become general object OF distrust
and misunderstanding a fact not only
deeply Injurious to Japan but very
unfortunate to the foreign nations,
whose policy in the Far East is in
fluenced thereby" The Marquis ex-
pressed the opinion that it was "the
duty Of the nation to inspire spirit Of
confidence and good will among its
friends abroad"
Baron Ishii, in admitting the ac-
curacy of the Saionji statement, at
tributed it to 'the seeds Of Ill will in
sidiously planted by German propa-
ganda." The Marquis Okurna ex-
pressed the opinion, however. that the
undeniable prejudice developing among
Americans was Chiefly due to jealousy
Of Japan's marvellous progress and in
dustry." He added that the Japanese
themselves were to some extent re-
sponsible, because they may have
waxed selfish and conceited as the re-
suit Of their successes
The average Japanese business man.
who submerges you in tea and is
eager to serve you, does
not openly subscribe to any one Of
these views. On the contrary, he has
tens to assure you that "the Japanese
people love the Americans" and re-
gret that there should be any misun-
between them. He draws
upon a rather impressive knowledge
Of history to show that the Japanese
have always regarded the American
people as their mentors in Industrial
progress, and cites innumerable in
stances to show that American models
have figured more extensively In the
growth Of the empire than those of
any other nation.
Attitudes Fail to Harmonic.
The views and experiences Of Amer
leans. and to some extent Canadian
and British citizens, with the Japanese
do not llarmonize with the Japanese
attitude and assurances, and il one
wants to obtain a view that Is both
comprehensive and unfavorable, he
should ask a Chinese or Corean what
he thinks of the Japanese. Either or
both will exceed in vigor and vitupera-
ton the unfavorable opinion Of the
American or Canadian.
In view of the fact that the Chinese
and Coreans regard themselves as the
victims of Japanese autocracy and
It is quite natural that the
nationals Of those countries do not find
in the Japanese character to
admire. For very obvious reasons
have attached a good deal more i'm
portance to the estimates Of the Ameri-
can business men, and I regret to say
that with very few exceptions the
opinions regarding Japanese business
ethics were not what might perhaps
be desired.
An American business man who has
been dealing with the Japanese for
ten or twenty years attempted to size
up the situation by saying that you've
got to watch them all the time-in
politics, in diplomacy. In business.
They are hard bargainers and will take
of you at every turn unless
you keep your eyes open. As far as
the Government is concerned, it has
its eyes on you all the time, no mat
ter how friendly the public men of the
country may appear to be In their
speeches. Japan has the most far
system of espionage of any
in the world. You are card
from the moment you step
ashore until you leave
presume that this man and others
who provided testimony to the samo
effect had very good reason to justify
pessimism. AS far as my personal ex-
perience went. I may or may not have
been followed by the Japanese sleuths.
] know that they didn't rifle my let
fere hecauae didn't rr,-ita INV Tho