The Cordova daily times., 1921-04-29
JAP PROBLEM IS PUZzLInC
 WASHINCTON
BY COL. WINFIELD JONES

JdpdheSe War tdlh mere Dullh 1 HIS is the question that is now puzzling official Washington and some mem- bers of congress because of the discus sion concerning the advisability of putting the whole American navy in the Pacific and keeping it there The discussion has arisen because the Pacific fleet question has been dis cussed at at least two cabinet meet ings.
 Many reasons for ths proposed Pa cific naval plan are advanced. Defin- ite announcement that the Atlantic and Pacific fleets would be con- bined and stationed in the Pacific has not been made, but discussion of the matter and the two cabinet meet ings have served to bring out pub lie opinion on the situation.
 Whether such a move would make the Pacific as pacific as it now Is, or whether it would tend to compli- cate our relations with Japan is a mooted question.
 It cannot be denied that the course of Japan in the last few years has considerably irritated the American people. First there was the Korean aggressions, and the Japanization of those people against their will. Next the Japanese seized and held the Siberian coast, and they still occupy a large part of Siberia. The BOlsh- wiki Moscow government, if it per sists, will take care of that situa- tion in time, and the Japs will have to get out Then the Japanese seized the Russian half of the Island of Saghalien, already having the other half which was awarded to them by the peace of Portsmouth The Cali fornia anti-alien land law legislation next appeared on the horizon. It had been brewing for many years, and is still seething. At Versailles Japan insisted on her pound of
 
 Chinese province as great in area and nearly as great in population as the Japanese islands. Mr. Wilson supine- ly agreed to this wrong, though the U. s. senate refused to acknowledge the right of this gigantic robbery Under the Versailles treaty a man. date gave Japan most of the Pa cific islands taken from Germany The Island of Yap, principal cable station between the United States and the Orient, except Hawaii, is now in Japanese possession under this mandate, and Japan refuses to allow the United States full cable rights. In addition to all this the Japanese press, which is against the present Tokio ministry, continually "rattles the saber" at America Not only because the yellow men hate the United States but they hope by continual agitation to discredit the ministry, which is opposed to war.
 For a long time these irritating and possible causes of war with Japan have been accommodating, and if they continue and grow greater a conflict seems certain.
 There are two schools of thought in congress on the Japanese situation. One believes that war is certain, This school would quietly secure the biggest navy in the world, far supe- rior to anything Japan can muster on the seas, and if a good excuse for war occurs fight quickly and smash the naval power of Japan at one blow. This done the United States would, in the peace treaty, require that the Japanese navy be reduced to so small minimum that it would forever be impossible for Nippon to again embark on another war with this country.
 The other school, which contains many pacifists, would avoid war under practically any provocation. Men in this group are willing to see Japan hold Yap, fortify the islands taken from Germany, and continue the emigration into Hawaii, which already has become practically a Japanese possession except in sov- ereignty and flag. They are willing to see great Japanese naval bases established within striking distance of the Philippines, where Japan is sure to attempt the first blow in event of war. These men believe that somehow, someway, there will be no war, and they are willing to continue a "wiggling and wabbling" policy with Japan, which meanwhile, according to the best obtainable in formation in Washington, is getting ready for the coming struggle for