The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-05-04
JAPAN DOESN'T WANT WAR
American Just Back Tells State De.
partment, Admits General Hostility
for United States but Few Want
Trouble.

partment, Admits General Hostility
for United States but Few Want
Trouble.
Washington, April 24.-"Japan does
not want war;" is the statement of a
very Iprooninent American who has
just talked with the state depart-
ment. ut is true that the military
party is for tho moment in the as
cendancy over here. 1t is also true
that the military party in any country
may thrust that country into war by
It's appeals to pride and racial feeling.
but the majority of the Japanese
40 not want war, any more than the
majority OF any people want war
Further, the military party is retain
ing its hold on power by such a very
slender majority that 1t may be turned
out at any moment"
These cheering statements are sup
plementcd and modified however, by
his statements as to the hostility that
all classes Of Japanese seem to feel
for the United States. The most extra
ordinary attacks upon the United
States, her people, and her statesmen,
have recently. been made in public
gatherings In Japan by Japansc who
are regarded as among the prominent
members Of the race
81 do not believe that Shantung will
ever be willingly given up by the
Japanese" said he, "in spite Of their
promises. They arc planning to stay
forever, and their liking for Shantung
is based not only on the mineral re-
sources Of the province, but also on
the excellent physique Of the Shantung
men. If Japan were ever to gain com
pletc control OF the Chinese, these
would make excellent soldiers. I do
not believe the Japanese can however.
The Chinese blood is too strong. In
generation the Japanese invaders
would be swallowed up by their invol-
untary hosts"
1t is impossible to give the name Of
this gentleman. 1t may be said, how
ever, that a few years ago his name
was known to every American as the
engineer Of one OF the greatest pro-
jects ever put through to success and
a personal friend Of President Roose-
welt. He will return to the Orient
soon. and his public utterances must,
therefore, be marked by extreme eau
ton. His comment on the personality
Of Secretary OF State Hughes is almost
more interesting.
People told me- said he, that
Hughes is ma" without a sense of
humor. That's never met a
more genial, likca..c, human man. He
has the speed and nerve and control,
too, that any good American desires
to see in the holder Of this responsi-
BILE post"
He went on to tell an incident that
as Il business man of wide expert
ence and accustomed to great affairs
impressed him immensely.
81 handed to Mr.. Hughes ten page
typewriter report" he said, that
had prepared on the situation in the
Far East. He took it, sat down, and
began to chat with me on a dozen
topics only remotely connected with
my visit. All this time he was turning
over the pages Of my report He
would cast his eyes down page and
then turn 1t. He did not pay the tri-
butte Of careful attention to word
it seemed to me.
This is dickens OF note,
thought to myself. He isn't inter
ested in what I have to tell him. I'm
sorry I bothered to write that out
Then he began to cross question
me. He did not refer to that report
again, but he pressed his inquiries so
thoroughly on every conceivable angle
and side issue OF that report that be-
fore we got through I had told him
more than | had suspected | knew
The breadth Of his knowledge was as
founding. Above ALL though, what i'm
pressed me was his ability to glance
casually at that report and absorb cv
cry word OF it while carrying on a
pleasant social talk. Not one man In
10000 has double track mind OF that
sort"