The Washington times., 1921-06-26
ANTEAMER|CAN
FEELING GROWS
TENSER IN JAPAN
New Rebuffs Greet Friendly v.
s. Survey Of Trade Con-
dItions in Orient. 4
~ By w. n. ATKINS.
InternattonaI News Service.

AntC10ot1Om1 06W8
Anti-Amsrican feeling among the
Japanese now has reached point
where Japanese business men are re-
fusing to aid American diplomatic
officials In their surveys Of CONNER
cial conditions in the Japanese
empire.
Official reports to washington yes
tcrday told of the difficulties experi-
enced by American diplomatic agents
In making inspections OF Japanese
factories and mills, and In many
cases recited how Japanese business
men had openly refused to allow duly.
accredited American representatives
to go through their plants on tours
of observation.
!, American agents. the reports said.
have only engaged in such routine
tasks of endeavoring TO make study
of the Japanese trade field, and its
development along various lines In
such efforts they always have been
accorded the utmost courtesy In all
world centers. High officials. there
fore. were surprised by these reports,
emphasizing the growing antipathy
OF the Japanese to any form OF In
quiry directed by Americans, with
regard to their business affairs.
JAPs STUDY Us. HOWEVER.
In the face OF these reports, Off
cials recalled today that Japanese
mission is now engaged In making
an intimate study OF American BUSH
ness conditions. and in the course Of
this survey Is receiving every pos
sible aid that the American Govern
ment can render. even to the point
of providing efforts for the japanese
a so hot ha IN
be facilitated.
The. rebuffs aimed at American
agents were by no isolated instances.
as the reports reflected a feeling
among Japanese merchants that bor-
ders upon hostility toward Ameri-
can representatives.
"We are under no obligations to the
American consulate" is typical an
swer by a big Japanese merchant, ac-
cording to an American consular Of
ficer. who was denied access to his
plant for purposes of inspection.
Officials last night were making
these reports the basis of a careful
study. The authentic versions Of the
latest Japanese rebuffs come from
officials OF splendid standing in the
consular service for many years. Some
of them have been stationed In japan
for ten years or more. II is indicated
that Japanese business men. by their
present attitude. are showing a sud-
den change OF front. as In former
years, American agents were treated
with the customary courtesies.
DUE TO PROPAGANDA.
Officials in some quarters account
for these reports by the fact that a
portion OF the Japanese business pub
lie may have been influenced by prop
agandists who have become active re-
Gently In spreading anti-American
Oficials felt sure than Japan's duly
accredited representatives would dis
avow any purpose by the Japanese
business public as a whole to throw
impediments in the way of American
diplomatic officers by discouraging
their attempts to gain information of
a strictly legitimate character with
regard to trade development between
the two nations. 1t further was sur
missed that tho element of business
owners who offered the affronts which
were made the basis of the latest re-
ports wholly misinterpreted the pur-
pose of the visits of American agents.
There was no likelihood that these
Incidents were serious enough to cause
trouble between the two countries. but
they caused much surprise in high
official circles.