Evening journal., 1922-07-11
SAYSJAPANESE
DESIREPEACE

Of Japanese desire peace, not onl
with America but with tho rest @
the world. according to Mr.. SharT
Moreover, the heavy burden o
taxes Imposed as result OF the tire
mSsdous military and naval pro
grams engaged in by the imperia
government. serve as constant re
minder to the people of the higl
cost OF war.
Before departing on his worlt
tour Mr.. Sharp admits he possessed
many of the ideas so prevalent II
America concerning the Japanese
These ideas were made the more
pronounced by a stay in California
for-a-fe weeks prior to setting sail
onkthe mighty Pacific for the Orient.
''When we reached Honolulu" he
adds. "and found there the hostility
of Americans and native Hawaiians
towards the Japanese. my first i'm
pressfons concerning the Japanese
were increased still further. The
Japanese predominant in population
in Hawaii, and the other peoples
have considerable Justice in their
protests against Japanese aggres-
sion.r
From Honolulu Mr.. Sharp and his
family journeyed on to Yokohama,
andoth thence to Kyoto. the center Of
Old Japan in religion. ideals, Gus
toms. song and story. Then came
disillusionment.
"One could not ask for more cor
dial, ,tratment than we received in
Kyoto,'' says Mr.. Sharp. ION every
hand was shown desire 20 make US
comfortable and happy. There was
no. the least sign of any resentment
towards America or Americans. on
the other hand there was every evil
dence of a sincere desire for peace
with the world at large"
what about some of the tales
brought back from Japan by other
American travellers of ill-treatment
BY Japanese officials and people?"
was asked.
At regret deeply to say" rejoined
Mr.. Sharp, that some Americans
pr5vbke such treatment and deserve
It. For example what do you think
of parties of American travellers Wis
iting a Japanese temple-or any
other foreign place of worship for
that matter and deliberately laugh
ing at the services held. How do
YOU think we should treat foreign
ersz who should visit our own
churches IN this country and scoff
q o,,r <o,-rac ~ xuOrsnin ?"
Mr. Sharp and HIS family spent
a month in Kyoto. making numerous
Journeys to various points Of inter
est. They then went TO China.
There they were much impressed by
the sterling character of the people
the simplicity OF their ideas and
habits, and their great regard for
their elders and their ancestors.
But the call OF japan still was
strong. Even the children wanted
TO return 20 Kyoto for further stay. !
So the party went hack 10 the an
cient Japanese city and passed an
other month there. One charac-
teristic of the Japanese and thel
Chinese people was emphasized by
Mr.. Sharp in discussing his impress
sions:a
.sThe japanese and the Chinese
are essentially imitators. They are
not originators." he said. Pointing
to fineiy-made chair in his private |
ONCE, Mr. Sharp continued:
"Giye that chair TO a japanese or /
Chinese and ask him to duplicate
it. He will do It so cleverly you will
not he able to tell the duplicate from
the original. But ask him to create
a new and better chair, and he will
be lost"
Mr., Sharp intimated that this
was one which tended
to make for peace instead of war,
and II war arose It would more like
Iy come from outside OF Japan than
within.
The party also discovered that
many of the "sob-stories" told of
the terrible sufferings OF the Koreans
lnder Japanese domination were far
rom, the truth. They spent some
inle in the Hermit Kingdom" re-
,uted by some historians TO be the
oldest in the world.
"Under the Korean monarchy"
aid Mr.. Sharp. the king was an
absolute autocrat. II he took Of
ense at any one. he could order
,f Ms head at will. Naturally, the
Koreans resented the invasion and ]
IMPOSITION of Japanese rule, but
Ium bers of them admitted to me
hat they were better governed by
he Japanese than they had been
nder the Korean dynasty"
Here Mr.. Sharp digressed a bit
0 give an idea of the form of the
apanese Government.
Il was taught" he said. "in study
ng English history that the king
eigns but. does not rule Similarly, |
found In Japan that the Mikado
-eigns but does not rule Japan.
Ike the British Empire, is governed
argely through representatives of I,
he people. While the Imperial fam
~ Is held in the highest respect. al /
nost vorshipped. nevertheless the
actual running OF the government is
n the hands OF the ministry. par
lament and elder statesmen" III
After leaving Korea, Mr.. Sharp
ind his family went to Java. where | III
hey found excellent roads for mo- N
oring, thence TO India, where they II
Jaw the British expedition TO Mount II
Everest. In India they were enter II
aimed for four days by tho Mahara- II
All OF Kapurthala, one OF the most l
of Indian princes.
,hristmas found the party in Cey-
on. -rive weeks were passed in /
sgyntsa and the homeward journey |
westward was begun. Stops were /
nade in Rome, Venice and Flor |
nee and in tho Italian and French /
riviera districts.
After a month in Paris. the party