JAPANESE PRIDE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 96, 16 January 1908, Page 7

JAPANESE PRIDE.

| DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS. AMERICA DESIRES FURTHER i/"' v RESTRICTIONS. hr TEt.EGr.Arji—rntss association—coriniGHT. ; Now York, January 14. ; 'An apparently inspired statement from Washington declares that ,tho Department of Commerce is not' yot completely convinced of the sufficiency of Japan's proposed measures to restriot coolie immigration to tho United States. It adds that tho State department officials foel that it is not: easy to convoy to Japan. ; oven by suggestion, the desirability of amending her plans without wounding her pride; 'henoo tho delay in preparing the Noto which Mr,'O'Brien (the new Ambassador to Japan) is to present to the'Mikado'3 Government. Porhaps if may bo ncccssary (tho statemerit concludes) to-await'tho arrival of M. Takahira, tho new -Japanese 1 Ambassador to. ■ Washington (formerly Ambassador to' Italy), ' in' order to' complete; negotiations.! 1 protest v against prejudice. ! Some light on tho'attitude and sensibilities , of Japan in the'.present issue is thrown by the following extract from a leading article published in the " Japan Times," df-.Tokio:— ~"Lot fairminded'peoplo ask, whose is tho fault? Is it just , that Japan should be askod ; to alter her treaties :or bind herself With new stipulations.' just" because the unreasonable prejudice exists on the 'American continont? The proposition .would be fairer if it were that men arid organs ( thftt aro .in a position 'guide the'public opinion of Canada and Amorica would doi.thcir.utmost,.to reason down" and stamp/ out/.tho.' .pernicious prejudice, and that,''therefore,'/Japan"might o persuaded in the meantime to .exercise patience. Thus approached; there is, ; no need that .we should oiv oiir dignity; "Biit so'long as' men in "responsible positions and iiewspaperS of infiuenco in the"-two countries cohtinuo to keep alivo their nlisguided prejudice against our people as against thoso of other Asiatio countries,- and however covertly or under whatever pretext it may lie they carry on the crusade, it is diffioult to see how Japan can consider any' proposition to solve tho difficult problem. : The prejudice is on their Side; let ■ there be forthcoming some assurance that it will be fought out Until it finally disappears. : Tho existence _of a mischievous prejudice can .certainly furnish no occasion.for- -international .negotiations unlesß to suppress it." - ' M. . Takahira was one of the Japanese signatories to tho; Peace Trcfaty of Portsmouth. He has been-.Minister-to the United States before. Ho replaces 11. Aoki, who was recently lecalled from Washington.