The New York herald., 1922-02-19

to remark that it win be a great
disappointment to many Of our
European friends If this war does
not take place." Having said this
much to put his fellow Americans on
their guard against taking too much
for granted. it is to be regretted that
Gen. Sheriff. did not deem II adj
visable to state plainly and without
equivocation the identity of those
European friends" Such a reveia-
ton, made frankly and fearlessly.
might have resulted in an interna-
tional thunderclap, but IL would have
cleared the air. If the American peo-
pie are being deceived in the matter
of real friendship by some of those
whom we trust, we ought TO know
the truth.
Since this book was written inter.
national affairs have undergone sur
prising changes in more than one de
rection. through action by the WASH
ington Conference. Yet achievements
at Washington do not nullify. by any
means, all the clements OF a dis
turbed world situation which the
author thought IL his patriotic duty
to lay before his fellow citizens. COM
paratively few OF whom were in po-
sition to measure them as no did
by contact at first hand. This intro.
duction, of some fourteen pages. pro-
vides bird's-eye view of the general
situation; and thenceforth the read
er, in less than a dozen entertaining
chapters. sees the post war British
Empire and present day France:
chats with makers OF the German
Republic: visits the Low Countries:
gasps with surprise at the new devel-
opment OF profitable farming in Dem
mark: surveys the problems of Scan
unusual view OF the Petite Entente
which holds such grave possibilities
for the world Conditions in Austria
and Hungary are noted with appre-
citation OF their Importance and
changed conditions OF the Mediter-
ranean are inteiligently portrayed.
The volume closes with an interpre-
tation of underlying forces, CONNER
cial, political and other. I'm the Orient,
with particular reference to Japan.
In this final chapter Gen. Sheriff.
relates that one day at Oyster Bay.
years after the Russo-Japanese war
had passed into history. Col. Roose-
Welt told me the whole story of his
Intervention in that conflict. and
especially OF an episode when an
i1npdSSc had been reached because
Japan insisted on a cash indemnity.
which Russia refused to pay. He
had abridged the abvss between them
by suggesting that If Japan would
cancel her indemnity demand no
would recognize her suzerainty over
Corea and withdraw the American
Minister from Seoul. the Corean
capital He trusted Kaneko. and il
was through him that these neeotia-
tions were successfully conducted.
(Kaneko was Harvard graduate
and long a member of the Japanese
Imperiai Privy Council)
This incident may be fully UNDER
stood by a comparatively few others
than the statesmen directly con-'
cerned therein. But il is safe to as
sumo that n great majority of Amer
leans will read II and ponder II with
Increasing surnrise for IL is probable
that q large majority believe Japan
obtained suzeraintv over Corea SIM
ply 10y SwooniHg down upon Ii with
an army and taking permanent pos
session-not considering acquies-
cence by the United States or other
Powers. In any event. the whole
transaction may be deemed matter
OF high importance. especially at the
present time. Without casting the
slightest dou5f Oh the authenticity
of Gen. Sherrir's account OF this dis
closure personally made TO him by
Col. Roosevelt. II would seem that
Japanese e-American relations. now SO
happily improving. might be dis
tinctly furthered should the State
Department think II advisable TO
make public additional details. espe-
cially the surrounding circumstances