Evening star., 1923-09-09
BYF. CUNLIFFE-0NEN, c. b. L.

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"O every cloud. no matter how
dark, there is a silver lining.
and there is no doubt that, ter
riple and epoch making as has
been the appalling disaster which has
oyertaken the great island empire of the
orient. there will be certain compensat-
ing benefits, not alone to that stricken
nation on yonder side OF the racine
ocean, and also to the United states.
but, likewise, to the entire world. the
.Japanese never forget. They are en-
dowed with the most retentive memories
of anv oriental race. They sometimes
though very rarely, forgive what, with
their representative nature. they con-
strue. sometimes wrongly, as an affront
to their national pride and as slight
! to their people.
But on. the other hand the memory OF
kindnesses - of great kindnesses = is
treasured in the hearts of all. from the
princes of the imperial house down TO
the lowliest pariah; or "untouchable -
the so-called "ettas." who. to the num-
Der of several million, are regarded as
beyond the pale of the social life and
even of the legal system of the country.
Thus the Japanese will never forget
how, when the first news was received
in this country of the dreadful cata-
clysm that had SO suddenly oyer
whelmed the metropolis and various of
the important cities and seaports of Dai
Nippon, a wave of indescrible sympathy
swept over the whole of America, which
at once took the form Of every sort of
relief and assistance. 1t was sympathy
of true brotherhood. All differences, all
quarrels, such as those which are bound
to periodically crop UP between the
friendliest nations, as among members
of the same family; Quarrels, originating
for the most part from economic causes
and rivalry, were obliterated from the
mind as too trivial for consideration:
There was no longer any thought OF
Japan as the potential enemy or the
United States and as the menace to the
latters possession of the Philippines and
Of Hawaii. There was only the thought
! of Japan, the victim OF such q dread
known for centuries and. moved by a
profound pity. not unmixed with awe.
every American purse was opened and
every American heart went forth to
their brethren in japan. their allies In
the great war; 1t was from the United
States that came the first messages of
sympathy and pledges of assistance and
/ 1t was the United States that sent the
| first actual aid and relief for the suffer-
ers.
Nor are the Japanese likely to forget
that at the meeting at Geneva Of the
assembly Of the league Of nations. at
were represented, it was Sir Joseph
Cook, the principal representative and
delegate Of the Australian common
wealth, who interrupted the PROCEEDINGS
set for the day in order to ask the as:
| sembly to pass q. resolution Of profound
sorrow for the catastrophe which he had
Just learned had overtaken japan, and
| to tender to. the victims its deepest
sympathy. In such heartfelt words did
Sir Joseph address the assembly that
the usually imperturbable Ambassador
Ishii, one of the best known and best
liked Of Japanese statesmen in America,
for once gave way to his emotion and
declared that "this highest oppression
Of public opinion in the, world would
touch his people as q striking manifes-
tation Of International brotherhood and
/ Of fraternity between peoples"
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