Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-08
WORLD FRIENDSHIP
SEEN BY JAPAN IN
WAKE Of DISASTER
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
Ueased Wire Service TO The Journal.)
lroDyr;0b+

NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-Looking
for the rainbow in the midst of
unimagjnable catastrophe, the influ-
entail Japanese in this city today
declared they were convinced that
in their present terror and in their
future bid for renewed existence,
the Japanese people will be brought
closer to the other peoples of the
world than ever otherwise would
have been the case.
With all suggestion of imperialis-
tic tendency swallowed up in the
work of civic reconstruction which
lies ahead, a new Japan may arise,
carrying with her the lasting friend
ship and sympathy of the other ma
tions. The offers to aid Japan, re-
ported at the imperial consulate
here, show that no country has been
too small or too thoughtless to eX-
tend a hand of fellowship and of
succor. Even soviet Russia, I'M
recog nized among the modern peo-
pies, has sent a substantial offer OF
aid.
The japanese in the United States
have been conscious of a loss OF
sympathy, not only in this country
but among other white peoples OF
the globe. They attributed this
largely to anti-Japanese propaganda
which has pictured Japan as the
leading force in q movement for the
amalgamation Of the yellow races
into an alliance which would
threaten white supremacy in. world
affairs. Japan has been accused OF
reaching out to grasp all of China
and of sending agents into India 10
foment trouble with the leaders or
that vast and uneasy empire.
All of this propaganda, the Japan
csc say, has tended to create sus-
picion among the western people
over every move that Japan might
make. The Japanese have remained
more or less silent under the
charges because silence is a Japan
csc trait. They have been measur-
ing the consequences, however, not
merely in possible losses of trade,
but in social and moral prestige.
British Alliance Cherished
Japan has been striving to hold
her place among the first-class pow
ers of the world eyer since the war
with Russia gave her a claim to
such rank. Her alliance with Great
Britain followed and 1t was
cherished thing in Japan. Walking
step by step with the British lion.
the Japanese felt their relationship
with the white nations was estab-
Iished for all time. Japan was quick
to follow her ally, England, w"h a
declaration of war againss Ger
many, despite the fact that Ger
many and Japan always had been
on very friendly terms and tfie
Germans had had much to do with
building up the japanese army, Inc
European Allies called upon Japan
for very little assistance. The Jap
anese, of course, took Shantung
from the Germans Immediately, out
has returned it to China in comph-
ance with promises made at YER
sailles.
japan wanted to send troops to the
western fighting front in France
futher to cement her ties with Great
Britain. but the Allies had unfortu-
nate experiences with all but Whlte
troops in the field and the japanese
were thanked but their offer was de-
clined.
After the war Japan felt herself
slipping a bit as a power There
was agitation in Great Britain for
annulment of the Japanese treaty
of Alliance. Lord Northcliffe was
one of the powerful English intlu-
ences at work in that direction.
Japan was pictured in Great Britain
as being the only power likely to
threaten the United States and II
was said England did not care to
1un the risk of being brought INTO
any such controversy. The Japa-
nese eyed the Washington Peace con-
ference with the gravest suspicion
but in that conference in the end she
won a place of complete supremacy
in the Far East and her fears OF lost
prestige were allayed.
Disaster Brings Friends
Now in the disaster which has ov-
erwhelmed her, Japan finds the
sympathy Of the world swelling up
to her in waves of Warmest friend
ship. The Japanese once more are
struggling people and in their Strug-
gle they expect to win again the adj
miration Of the world and to find a
means of greater and firmer under
standing.
Much has been said of the yellow
peril in the United States, but there
are only about 200 Japanese in
the entire country. The Japanese
have been a problem of the Pacific
coast, however, because of the total
in this country about $4,000 are in
the thee Pacific states of Washing
ton, Oregon and California.
Los Angeles is the greatest amt ri
can Japanese city with 11,61S Nip
ponese inhabitants. San Francisco
and Oakland have a combined popu-
lation of about 5000. Seattle, how
ever, is the second japanese city with
1874 residents. New York has but
about $500 Japanese residents, but
the population here js exceptionally
influential through the presence Of
so many financial and business repre-
sentatives Of the island kingdom.