New-York tribune., 1922-03-05
IL Ieace IS Keynote of Hardngs First Year In Office
b. S. Relations With Japan Were
More Critical Than Most
Persons Realized

Mr.. Colby by repeated INQUIRIES M .,
the California land and school laws die.
terminating against the Japanese r.
was perfectly obvious that Constitu-
tionai difficulties prevented our Fedora,
Government from having free hand in
solving the California problems. y
was also obvious that a nation which
had written the fourteenth and .sf.
teenth amendments into its Constitr-
'ion was placed at disadvantage in
any claim that it had a right to dis.
criminate, or to permit one of i4s sov.
ereign states to discriminate.
| Just as clear was the impossibility of
TINS government telling japan that it
could not control California, for the
next logical step would be for The IAN
anese to say: "very we'll, we will take
it up with California direct"
This sketchy picture shows the
dilemma of Mr.. Colby whenever he
faced the cold inquirng eyes of Baron
| Shidehara. .
Explains Attitude of
Japan on War u. s.
The situation was so serious at that
time that the writer went to very
able diplomat of another nation, man
who had dealt with the Japanese For
eign Office for many years and knew
their methods.
"Will the Japanese fight over this
California situation 7" the diplomat was
asked.
"No," he replied without hesitation.
"the Japanese will not fight America
unless they believe their national ex-
istence to be threatened."
We'll" said the writer, "there is no
possibility of war, then, for, of course,
this country would do nothing to
threaten Japan's national existence"
But you are threatening it," said
the diplomat, explosively, "you are
threatening it at this very moment,
and the amazing part of the thing is
that no one in this country--not evcn
your State Department--seems to
realize it."
"Do you mean that this California
situation seems to the Japanese to
threaten their national existence ?' the
writer asked
"Not at all. That is mere camou-
fage," replied the diplomat. "Thc
Japanese realize perfectly we'll that
they are not going to get anywhere with
I,,-
would like to have the discriminatory
conditions removed, of course, but they
do not hope for any such action.
What is more important is that you
have just lodged protest against their
occupation of Saghalicn Island. If you
will look at that island on the map you
will see. that it is practically contin-
uaton of the main islands of Japan,
only stretching to the west instead Of
to the cast, thus completing the
dominance of the whole Eastern coast
OF Asia by Japan. Further, it is large
island, Offering plenty Of room for "a
spillway for Japan's surplus popu1a-
ton. Surplus population spells hard
times, aIlu UGIu IiNCS, III CNCI COuHlly,
spell disaster for the politicians in
power SO | am convinced that Japan
would willingly fight before giving tip
this present movement"
Emphasis has been laid on the Sagha-
lien situation, not because it was the
chief disturbing element in American
relations with Japan, but because it
was so little appreciated either at the
time or since.
Finds Critical Situation
With No Proposal for Solution
President Harding found this criti-
cal situation with Japan on his door