SANCTITY OF TREATIES BY CHARLES W. ELIOT President Emeritus, Harvard University I WELCOME heartily the opportunity to take part in an adequate reply to Count Okuma's recent message to the American people. Many thoughtful and patriotic Americans rejoice that Japan has engaged vigorously in the great European War, in conformity with the terms of her wise alliance with Great Britain. Germany has been possessed for twenty years with an intense desire not only to obtain more territory and more ports in Europe, but also to possess strong colonies in the Pacific and the Far East, and close connections through the Near East with Southern Asia. The cooperation of Japan in the present war will secure the transfer of the colonies Germany had acquired in the Orient to other Powers. Indeed, this beneficent result has already been achieved. Again, the active coöperation of Japan will give her a rightful place in the Conference that will ultimately settle the terms of peace for Europe and the world, when the present horrible convulsion is over; and Japan will represent there the best humanitarian sentiments of the Orient. The effective execution by Japan of its treaty with Great Britain, and of its recent engagement with China in regard to Kiaochow and Tsingtao, will have high value for the future peace of the world; because that peace must depend on the faithful execution of international agreements. Public confidence in that faithful execution has been rudely shaken of late by Germany's violation of her treaties and agreements on the score of "military necessity." Europe and America will both be grateful to Japan for reënforcing the public opinion of the Occident with regard to the sanctity and supreme value to humanity of international agreements. All Americans who have knowledge of Japanese capacities and loyalties rejoice that the present great crisis in human affairs finds Count Okuma Premier in Japan; for they know that he has always been a friend of peace, an opponent of all worldpower ambitions, an advocate of justice and good will in governmental action at home and abroad, a warm advocate of his country's highest interest, and a firm believer in international honor and good faith. INTERNATIONAL ETHICS BY W. MORGAN SHUSTER Ex-member Philippine Commission, Former Treasurer-General and Financial Advisor of Persia As one who has long admired the Japanese people and their position among the world powers, I am glad of this opportunity to send a few words from an American friend and sincere well-wisher. With a multitude of other American friends of Japan, I share the hope that she will become as great in the council of nations through her high international standards and strict observance of ethics as she has become powerful through the valor and skill of her armies and navies, and that the great influence which she, as a progressive and enlightened nation, exerts in the eastern hemisphere will be so used that international relations throughout the world will continuously improve. It may be fairly claimed that the Japanese people are well in the van of all nations in the matter of international ethics. No student of contemporary history could fail to be impressed by the dignified, gallant, and generous conduct of the Japanese Government toward those Germans who found themselves in Japan when the war broke out. It is unthinkable that there should be serious trouble between Japan and the United States. With the immense Pacific Ocean lying between the two countries there is no shadow of an excuse for friction. The natural and reasonable field for Japanese political influence is in the East; for that of the United States, strictly in the West. The accident of war, sixteen years ago, placed the United States flag over the Philippine Islands. I believe that it was neither the wish nor the intention of the American people to acquire a permanent sovereignty over those islands, and I hope that this nation will not permanently hold the Filipino people against their will. I believe that the Filipino people should be granted their independence, and trust that Japan and the United States will find it possible to unite in a permanent treaty to neutralize and protect those islands from foreign aggression, whatever its source. If this shall be done, I think that the intercourse between that new republic and your ancient empire will prove one of the influences to urge the Filipino people onward to a highly honorable and successful place among the nations. I earnestly desire for Japan the fullest measure of peace and prosperity. RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES BY A. BARTON HEPBURN Banker, Ex-President New York Chamber of Commerce WHAT Japan really wants is full recognition by the nations of the world. She asks for her citizens that they, by treaty, be placed upon the plane of equality with the most favored nations, that they be recognized as the equal of any nation of the Caucasian race; in short, that the Japanese be given the right of naturalization, in order that they may become citizens (for instance, of Canada and the United States) upon the same terms that the French, Germans, Russians, Austrians, Italians, and Spanish may become citizens of these two great countries. Their ambition is certainly a laudable one, and must command general sympathy. The congested population of Japan naturally induces emigration. Canada and the United States, because of their sparsely settled condition and their immediate proximity-separated, or connected, as you please, by the ocean-naturally invite immigration. This raises the question of racial admixture, an admixture such as would produce a harmonious people, a community reason |