Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-05
JAPANESE Peril
IN CONFERENCE
Baron Shidehara Tells York
Philanthropist Of Fears Of
Dissension
MAY MAKE RESERVATIONS

The authority for this is no 'psS u
person than the japanese AmbasSado!
at Washington. for he makes the state .
ment directly in some correspondence
made public by Arthur u. FarquHr. the
York (Pa.) manufacturer. philanthro
pist and political economist. Mr.. Far
omar in his letter TO the Ambassador
mentions that he is member Of the
Japan Society.
The significance of the Ambassador g
letter is that II indicates the Janancsr
Intention Of barring from discussion
many Of the topics that most neoplr
thought would be prominent In il. and
further suggests that the work of the
agenda builders is going 10 be rather
long and nrduous. for with limitations
II is going TO take some mancurvering 10
get the program settled to everybody s
satisfaction. Mr.. Farquar wrote on
July DO:
II am writing now simply To speak
OF the paramount imUurtnn"" OF
President Harding's proposal tor uni
vtrsal disarmament. or rather limitn
'tions of armaments.
"I know japan would make n mis-.
take If she does not heartily join IN
this movement without rescrention
trusting to fair trpatmont believe she
may trust America and England to
treat her fairy. and | know you can
trust our President and our Secretary
Of Stnte. Mr.. Hughes
'Thcy are both known 70 me as OF
high character and fair feel sure
that you will use your grent inhu-
ence in heartily joining this move
ment without reservation. trusting to
the honor and fair dealing of the
participants. Not thut I believe you
fai tin,,
previous 10 the conference. but the
very fact Of asking would have n dis
quieting influence. There must be EN- :
tire confidence displayed.
Text Of Ambassadors Letter
Baron Shidehara' : letter is as fol-
THE japanese Embassy,
Washington, Aug, ,, 1921.
"Mr. A. B. Farqubar,
York, Pa.
'I have received your letter Of July
~. and have read the contents care
fully. appreciate yOur sincerity In
writing as you do and In offering the
advice and suggestions.
"Thcre is no need, ! think for the
apprehension which exists IN the United
States among many Americans who
fear that Japan might not desire and
advocate successful issue Of the forth
coming conference. | assure you that
no nation could he more deeply inter-
ested than Japan In reaching accords
and understandings with the several
Powers that are to be Represented at
the conference on Far Eastern and Pa
cifc policies. In view, however. of the
known activities of certain group ot
men in stirring up antngonism and
hatred among various nations with re-
gard TO Chinese problems. alarm was
naturally felt in Japan on receipt of
the invitation that these men might at
tempt to play the same old game as
they did at Paris and TO force discus
sion of issues that would serve no use
full purpose for any of the Powers, in
Guiding China herself. Should such n
situation develop 1t would 40 doubt b."
disastrous to the success of the confer
ence.
Japan was quick in expressing her
entire willingness to take part in the
proposed conference for the limitation
of armaments. But in Far Eastern
and Pacific matters TO be included iu
the agenda Of the conference. the con
siderations above set forth compelled
the japanese Government to move with
caution and to make inquiries in ad .
problems. | am now happy to inform
YOU that our inquiries have clarified the
situation. We shall enter the confer
ence with high hope and confidence.
"In the opinion Of most japanese
statesmen there Is no issue that should
not and could not be settled both AMIGA
bly, and speedily. and unless those fac
tors whose interest II has been and con
tfnues to BE- to develop discord between
Americans and japanese succeed in their
efforts. there is no reason to doubt that
our mutual intention Of good will must
bear its proper fruit.
sincere friend,
"KlJCRO SHIDEHARA."
That Certain Group
1.-THE certain group Of men" to
whom the japanese Amba SSadOr refers
IN the FarQuhnr correspondence is he
6eyed to consist, Tor the main part, OF
Americans who in the past were. or Mt
present still are, in the Chinese official
service. In the game of diplomatic
intrigue which ragged nj Paris between
December. 1918, and July. 1919. those
men, according TO japan, were per
IT was alleged in Toxic that the
Chinese Government to large extent,
and sometimes against its better judg
ment. was 'incitcd" by anti Japanese
advisers TO take up positions at Paris
that were not only untenable, but de-
signed to foment the bittercst strife.
The japanese obviously are afraid an
imositics at Washington may be en-
Rcndered from the same quarter.
1t is not clear from Baron Shide
hara's letter what questions he has in
mind. to the forced discussion of which
Japan would object, but Shantung-
the paramount apple Of discord at Paris
naturally suggests itself. I: was
against the Shantung settlement in
favor of Japan that every influence
China could exert at Paris was exer-
cired.
Mr.. Farquhar addressed Baron Shide
hara as member of the Japan Society
''and a warm friend of your country. '
The York philanthropist is eighty threi
years old, has been actively in busines,
Tor sixty five years and informed tn,
Ambassador his first dealings with tn,
Japanese were In 1876. Il knew Com
usodore Perry, who had the reputation
Of discovering Japan so far as Americ.
b concerned, and the accounts he CAV,
were exceedingly interesting" Mr.
Farquhar said.
Mr.. Farquhar has visited Japan ant
the Far East on several occasions
Seven years ago. when the World Wa
broke forth, he was travelling in Bul
garia and was caught in the wars mael
Strom.