ia^*:

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Presented by the Author

Anti-Japanese
War-scare Stories

Anti -Japanese
War-scare Stories

BY
SIDNEY L. GULICK

New Yobk Chicago Toronto
Fleming H. Revell Company
London and Edinburgh

Copyright, 19x7, by
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY

4'.

775 i,i

New York: 158 Fifth Avenue
Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave.
Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W.
London: 21 Paternoster Square
Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street

FOREWORD
In speaking widely over the country I con
stantly meet open-minded men and women
who desire to know the real facts with regard
to American-Japanese relations. They have
heard so many alarming statements, made ap
parently on the best of authority, that they
have developed serious doubts of Japan's
character and especially of her attitude
toward, and purposes regarding the United
States. As I have answered question after ques
tion and have presented unimpeachable facts,
their minds have become profoundly relieved
and they have urged me to write down my
statements, and the refutations of the stories
which had so distorted their opinions.
This repeated request I have tried to meet
in the following pages. I have tried to pre
sent the material as though I were talking to
a personal friend. If in looking it over the
reader finds assertions that do not accord
with what he believes to be the facts, I will
consider it a personal favor if he will kindly
5

6 Foreword
write me, giving his understanding of the
case and the evidence supporting his view
point. What we all wish is the truth and
nothing but the truth; the facts and all the
facts. It may not be amiss to say in the standard
phrase, that "I hold no brief for Japan." I
do not maintain that her International poli
cies and procedures have been Immaculate. I
do not hold that her treatment of China has
been above criticism.
But I do contend that nothing that Japan
has done or failed to do justifies Americans
in circulating falsehoods about her plans,
purposes, character and doings. We must be
true and fair In our thinking about her, and
this for our own sakes, no less than for hers.
We cannot expect her to be friendly toward
us and fair in her plans and preparations for
the future, if our people are fed by a continu
ous stream of falsehood In regard to her and
are made to distrust her every move and dis
count her every word.
It Is to be hoped that the period of active
anti- Japanese propaganda has ceased. The
poison of the past, however, still remains In
our system. It Is to be hoped that this brief
statement concerning widely circulated false-

Foreword 7
hoods may serve as an antidote for the
poison. It may be well to add that no one
is responsible for anything in this pamphlet
save myself.
Sidney L. Gulick.
New York, Nov. 15, 19 17.

CONTENTS
PAGE
Foreword  5
Viscount Ishii and His Message in
America  ii
The Anti-Japanese Campaign in America . i8
The Hearst YEtLow Peril Hoax  20
Magdalena Bay Stories  24
The Turtle Bay Story  30
Japanese Troops in Mexico  31
Japanese Troops in the Hawaiian Islands 35
Japanese Troops in the Philippines. ... 36
Japanese Spies  37
American Spies in Japan  39
A Japanese Spy in Manila  40
Japan's Relations with Mexico  40
Alleged Japanese Plans to Seize the
Philippines  42
An Anti-Japanese Hymn of Hate  48
Insulting Cartoons  50
Some Samples of Anti-Japanese Edi
torials  51
Garbled Quotations from the Japanese
Press  53
Congressman Britten's Statements  56
Japan's Plan to Attack the United States
IN 1914  57
9

10 Contents PAGE
Japanese Business Immorality  60
German Intrigue  64
A Falsified Cablegram  65
Another Cablegram  67
Anti-American War-Scare Stories in
Japan  70
A Japanese Misrepresentation of Amer
ica's Ambitions  77
Conclusion  79
After-word — ^The Lansing-Ishii Under
standing  83

ANTI-JAPANESE
WAR-SCARE STORIES

VISCOUNT ISHII AND HIS MESSAGE
IN AMERICA
The coming to the United States of the
Japanese War Mission headed by Viscount
Ishii has proved a notable event in the his
tory of the relations of America and Japan.
From the time of their landing In San Fran
cisco (August 12, 1917) until the culmina
tion of their work at the memorable dinner
given by Mayor Mitchell in New York City,
September 29th, the Mission has received a
steady stream of welcome in the cities visited.
The Viscount made a memorable series of ad
dresses. His utterances were notable for
their form as well as for their noble senti
ments. The addresses of members of the
War Missions from Europe were not more
notable and worthy of wide hearing than
have been those made by members of the
War Mission from Japan. 11

12 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
Among the matters which the Viscount re
peatedly emphasized was the disastrous con
sequences of the insidious German campaign
of misstatement and insinuation carried on
for ten years to estrange the feelings of
America and Japan.
Not only In this country but before he left
Japan the Viscount often referred to the Ger
man propaganda.
"Nothwithstanding the indefatigable ef
forts of Germans to bring about discord be
tween Japan and the United States the two
countries are now practically allied, making
common front against Germany."
These words, spoken at his farewell din
ner in Tokyo, have found frequent reitera
tion in his addresses in America. Both in the
House and in the Senate, as reported by the
press, he referred to this matter.
"He warned the House to be on guard
against the insidious treachery 'that has
found hiding-place In our midst and which
for the last ten years has sown seeds of dis
cord between us.' "
Senator Saulsbury, introducing the Vis
count in the Senate, said: "We know how
industriously insidious attempts have been
made by the Prussian masters of the German

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 13
people to bring about distrust and hatred In
the world. The yellow peril was made in
Germany." The Viscount In his addresses
referred incidentally to the "hired slanderer"
and "the criminal plotter" who seek to em
broil international relations.
On the occasion of the welcome given by
the National Press Club at Washington
(September 22) the Viscount made the fol
lowing statements, as reported in the press :
"I am quite confident that some day the
eyes of all men who honestly endeavor to
present the truth, will be opened and that the
truth about Japan and about America will
be revealed.
"For more than ten years a propaganda
has been carried on In this country, in Japan,
and, in fact, throughout the world, for the
one and sole purpose of keeping the nations
of the Far East and the Far West as far
apart as possible; to break up existing treaties
and understanding; to create distrust, sus
picion, and unkindly feeling between neigh
bors in the east and In the west, and all in
order that Germany might secure advant
age In the confusion.
"The world was flooded with tales of
Japan's military aspirations and Japan's du-

14 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
pllclty. Have these been borne out by his
tory? Even now the German publicity agent
whispers first in your ear and then in mine.
To the accompaniment of appeals to the hu
man heart, he tells to me stories of your
duplicity and to you of mine.
"These agents have been supplied with un
limited resources. No wonder we have been
deceived. A short time ago, a bad blunder
gave us a clue. The Zimmermann note to
Mexico involving Japan, was a blunder. It
made such a noise that we were disturbed In
our slumbers and so were you. This gave a
check for a time, but since then the agents
have been hard at work.
"Let me tell you a piece of secret history.
When It became known to us that the Ameri
can and British Governments were alike de
sirous of entering into a general treaty of ar
bitration, but that they found the making of
such a treaty was precluded by the terms of
the British alliance with Japan, as they then
stood, it was not with the consent of Japan,
but it was because of Japan's spontaneous
offer, that the stipulations of the alliance
were revised (July 13, 1911) so that no
obstacle might be put in the way of the pro
posed treaty. As you know. Article four of

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 15
the new Anglo-Japanese treaty, now in effect,
excluded the United States from its opera
tion. This is a true account of the genesis
of that clause. It was Japan's own idea —
her own contribution to the cause of univer
sal peace.
"Now, if Japan had the remotest inten
tion of appealing to arms against America,
how could she thus voluntarily have re
nounced the all-important cooperation of
Great Britain? It would have been wildly
quixotic. "There is, one may surely be safe in say
ing, only one way to interpret this attitude of
Japan. It Is a most signal proof — if, indeed,
any proof is needed — that to the Japanese
Government and nation anything like armed
conflict with America is simply unthinkable."
In New York Viscount Ishii returned to
the matter of German anti-Japanese cam
paign in the address given at the welcome
dinner of the Japan Society.
"The strange thing about all this muddle
of misunderstanding in the past years is that
we have discovered a common characteristic
in both the Japanese and Americans. We
have both been too confiding, and at the same
time too suspicious and sensitive. We have

16 Anti- Japanese War-scare Stories
harbored the German and we have received
him as a mutual friend. His marvelous self-
centered and ordered existence, his system,
his organization, and his all-pervading self-
assertion, coupled with the insistence of the
greatness of his fatherland, have appealed to
us until, In a state of hypnotic sleep, we have
allowed him to bring us almost to the verge
of mutual destruction.
"The agent of Germany in this country
and in ours has had as his one purpose the
feeding of our passions, our prejudices and
our distrust on a specially prepared German
concoction until, drugged and Inflamed, we
might have taken the irrevocable step over
the edge, and at his leisure the vulture might
have fattened upon our remains.
"This is not a picture overdrawn. It is
true." At the tomb of Washington, Viscount Ishii
made a statement In his address which should
be known by every American who wishes to
understand the attitude of Japan toward
America. "Washington was an American, but Amer
ica, great as she is, powerful as she is, can lay
no exclusive claim to this immortal name.
Washington Is now a citizen of the world.

Anti- Japanese War-scare Stories 17
to-day he belongs to all mankind. Japan
claims interest In this holy circle. She yields
to none in reverence and respect, nor is there
any gulf between the ancient East and the
new-born West too deep and wide for the
hearts and the understanding of her people
to cross."
These are words of sober earnestness and
fact. For no people outside of America has
so completely and enthusiastically adopted
for reverence and veneration the name of
Washington — and I may add of Lincoln also
— as has Japan. In tens of thousands of her
schools the stories of their lives are admir
ingly instilled into the minds of the youth.
Their portraits hang in thousands of Japan
ese schools. Japan has literally adopted our
Washington and our Lincoln Into the
Pantheon of her heroes.
These utterances of the Viscount and what
they reveal should be widely proclaimed
among our people.

18 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

THE ANTI-JAPANESE CAMPAIGN
IN AMERICA
The writer does not believe that German
intrigue and German gold are the exclusive
cause of the anti-Japanese campaign in Amer
ica. It seems to him, as the result of much
study of this matter, that other causes have
also been at work.
First of all there has been a real problem
on the Pacific coast. There have been real
conflicts of interest and real economic strug
gle. There has been real friction between
American and Japanese laborers and be
tween American employers and Japanese
labor. Certain large interests also have had
a part in this matter. They have desired the,
expenditure of United States army and navy
appropriations on the Pacific coast. One of
Its advocates admitted to a friend of mine, in
1 910, that there was no real danger to the
Pacific coast from Japan, but it was im
portant to insist that there was, because the
expenditure of tens of millions of United
States funds for fortifications, barracks,
docks and the commissary supplies for large

Anti- Japanese War-scare Stories 19
naval and military bases would bring the
Pacific coast great and permanent pros
perity. Furthermore, it has been notable, that for
a dozen years whenever bills have been be
fore Congress calling for substantial increase
in the navy, a flood of scare stories has gone
out over the country telling of the dangers
we face and the need of more battleships.
In these scare stories, Ja<pan figured prom
inently. Honorable R. P. Hobson was an
ardent advocate of a larger navy, basing his
arguments to no small degree on the menace
of Japan. He repeatedly prophesied most
definitely on the date of Japan's impending
attack — namely, before the completion of
the Panama Canal.
And finally, there Is the natural human in
terest of Americans, as indeed of any people,
in startling stories of danger and of im
minent war. The press too often readily ac
cepts sensational "news" without trying to
find out whether or not the "facts" alleged
are really true. We all read with avidity
"news" sensationally and plausibly written
with startling headlines, especially when it
is assigned to a "responsible source," whose
name, of course, "cannot be given."

20 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
Now, I do not for a moment believe that
the press or the men referred to in general in
the above statements had any interest what
soever in the German propaganda, or re
ceived any German gold for what they did.
And yet it is not difficult to see how German
influence could utilize the above agencies for
pushing forward its own ends.
In the statements given In the following
pages I shall not attempt to estimate the
sources for the various stories. This, indeed,
would probably be impossible save, perhaps,
in a few instances. I content myself with a
brief recital of those particular anti-Japanese
stories that I had had occasion and oppor
tunity to investigate and the results of that
investigation.

THE HEARST YELLOW-PERIL
HOAX
In October, 19 15, The San Francisco Ex-
amtner published In two successive Sunday
editions on a double page, the alleged trans
lation of a Japanese book. The startling
headlines read:
"Japan's Plans to Invade and Conquer the

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 21
United States Revealed by Its Own Bcrn-
hardi." Other prominent titles read as follows :
"The First Presentation to the American
Public of a Highly Significant Book (the
Most Popular in Japan and Issued by Its
Powerful and Oflicial National Defense As
sociation), Which Tells Why the Japanese
are Determined to Declare War upon Us
and How They Expect to Win. This First
Installment Deals with Japan's Opinion of
Our Men and Women, Our Morals and Our
'Contemptible Army and Navy'."
"How Japan is Inflaming Its People
Against the United States and the First Hint
of Its War Plans."
The editorial introduction states that the
book was "not written by one writer but by
a very powerful society in Japan known as
the National Defense Association, and that
naval officers, army officers, cabinet and
government officers are members of this so
ciety; that its president is now Count Okuma,
the Premier of Japan and its last president
was ex-Premier Count Yamamoto." The
editorial also states that "more than a mil
lion copies had been sold." The translation
is "strictly literal" by "the well-known

22 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
American writer, Lawrence Mott, in collabo
ration with Mr. Hain Jon Kia, a distin
guished Chinese writer and scholar."
"In view of General Bernhardl's similar
book and Its sequel, this paper believes that
it is performing a real service to its readers
by making them acquainted with the Ideas
and plans of this Japanese Bernhardi, who Is,
as Mr. Mott says, 'a composite of the most
influential leaders of all Japan'."
A facsimile of the title page of the Japan
ese book is given, and also of a "popular
picture of Japan's Invading Army Landing
at San Francisco."
The following week In addition to the gen
eral headlines and Introduction repeated
from the previous week, a large amount of
freshly invented "translation" is given and
also "The Humiliating Terms of Peace
which Japan Expects to Force upon a Beaten
United States." Among these alleged terms
are the surrender to Japan of the Philippine
and Hawaiian Islands; permission of free
Japanese immigration; permission for free
marriage of Japanese men to American wo
men; Japanese rights in American schools;
rights of naturalization after three years;
full rights of land-ownership ; preference for

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 23
Japanese In educational positions; payment
of one-half of Japan's war expenses; the use
by Japan, free of charge, of all dry docks and
harbors; and also specifications as to taxes
and import duties.
Investigation showed that these two issues
were reproduced in many Hearst and related
papers in many parts of America. They
were read with avidity and aroused Intense
indignation, at least in California, against
Japan and the Japanese.
What now are the facts?
I. The title page of the book reproduced
in facsimile by the Examiner has, in addition
to the main title "Nichi-Bei Kal-Sen"
(Japan- America Open- War), the added
title, "Yume Monogatari" (Dream Story).
The book itself professes, therefore, on its
front page to be a romance 1 No Japanese
would be for a moment misled as to the
nature of the contents.
2. Published in 1913, by 1915 the first
edition of 2000 was not sold out !
3. The author is anopymous. It is not the
work of Count Okuma or of any other im
portant man or group of men. '

24 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
4. There is In Japan no "National De
fense Association." There is, of course, an
"Imperial Defense Commission" composed
of high officials of the army and navy ap
pointed by the regular authorities, but no
"Association" as asserted by the translator.
5. The allegation that Count Okuma is its
president Is of course pure fabrication.
6. The alleged translation is almost
wholly barefaced invention of the "transla
tor." 7. The "Humiliating Terms of Peace"
are the Imaginings of the translator and not
the work of the anonymous author!

MAGDALENA BAY STORIES
For many years, stories have been periodi
cally circulated to the effect that the Japanese
Government was negotiating with Mexico
for a naval base in Lower California. The
place chosen by the myth-makers for such a
base was Magdalena Bay.
President David Starr Jordan has repeat
edly exposed the folly of the proposal. A
recent renewal of the story led a friend to

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 25
write President Jordan about the matter to
which the following reply was made :
May 2, I917.
Dear Sir:
"I have had no particular information from Mag
dalena Bay within the last four years. It is a re
markably fine harbor but situated in a rainless dis
trict and the only water near the little village is
from a spring that bubbles up on the edge of the
sea on one of the islands near by.
"There was once a colony composed of New Eng
land people who collected from the rocfcs the lichen
called orchil which made a yellowish dye which was
called cudbear and which disappeared from the mar
ket when the German aniline dyes came in. The
village was then virtually abandoned.
"Some years ago my good friend Aurelio Sando
val, of Los Angeles, established a cannery for crabs
and turtles (which are very abundant in the bay)
there. He had about six Japanese, the foreman hav
ing been drawn from the Japanese sardine cannery
at Sakai near Osaka. This cannery failed because
of the high tariff on tin. The other workmen were
crab-catchers and were picked up in Mexico; with
them were about a half dozen Chinese and about
100 Mexicans; these latter did not prove very satis
factory workmen and in 1913 or '14, Mr. Sandoval
gave up the enterprise.
"The old stories of Magdalena Bay were purely
lies ; I have no doubt the new ones are also. I will,
however, write to Mr. Sandoval.

26 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
"The distinguished general, self-appointed,
Homer Lea, used occasionally to drill Chinese boys
about Los Angeles with broom-sticks; maybe the
Japanese cannery men amuse themselves in similar
methods. Knowing that there were only six Japan
ese at the time when the Hearst journals insisted
that there were 60,000 at Magdalena Bay, I am not
prepared to place any limits on the capacity for
lying which may be exhibited along this coast."

A NEW MAGDALENA BAY STORY
April 21, 19 1 7, members of Congress re
ceived a communication urging action on a
certain bill then pending. It read as follows :
"From: Dr. A. L. Boyce, 19 West 44th Street,
New York City.
"To : Members of the 6sth Congress, the Capitol,
Washington, D. C.
"Subject: Fish, Broomsticks and Rifles.
"I lunched last week with a shipbuilder who had
just returned from a trip to the Pacific Coast.
"This shipbuilder said, 'I saw thousands of Japan
ese fishing all the morning at Magdalena Bay, Mex
ico, and drilling all the afternoon, and such wonder
ful drilling you never saw in all your life— perfect
— and Dr. Boyce, they had modern rifles.'
"This shipbuilder, whose name and address will
be furnished on request is now drilling with the
civilian rookies on Governor's Island, New York
City, with a wooden gun.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 27
"On April 12th, I bought 500 more broomsticks
in order that none of our students need drill without
something in his hand, but as 1500 men came to drill
on April 14th, we are but little better off and will
have to buy 500 more broomsticks unless we get the
use of some Kregs that are stored on the Island.
"In view of all this how can anyone fail to realize
the importance of Congress passing the Chamber
lain Bill S. I. without emasculation."
On April 22nd I received a letter from
Hon. J. L. Slayden asking me to investigate
this statement about "thousands of Japanese
fishing all the morning and drilling all the
afternoon," and to see the "shipbuilder."
I did so, and had a personal conversation
with him. It turned out that he was not a
"shipbuilder" but the president of the "Vent-
Lite Shade Adjuster Co." When I talked
with him he told in detail of his visit to
Lower California with a view to possibilities
of shipbuilding. Knowing of my proposed
call and the purpose of it he had prepared a
statement in the shape of a letter to Dr.
Boyce, a copy of which he gave me and which
I here reproduce, omitting the first para
graph which merely tells of his journey.
"One evening about sunset we observed at some
little distance a large number of men in the act of

28 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
drilling. This being unusual, we made inquiry of a
Mexican who informed us that the men we ob
served, some 4,000 in number, were 'Los Japanese'
The drilling as observed by us and especially by my
self, possessing as I do much military drilling ex
perience, was as good as any that I have ever wit
nessed. I was informed that they carried Crag-
jorsin and other rifles. Further interested inquiry
revealed the fact that these men fished part of the
day and drilled the remainder, particularly in the
late afternoon. The men were not uniformed but
were armed.
"Nothing of any importance was placed on this
at first; but, being surprised at this information I
addressed our informant in Spanish, which language
I speak fluently; but he suddenly became silent and
the coin I offered him was of no avail. Indeed, no
pursuasion would cause him to speak further. On
the contrary, much to our surprise he suddenly dis
appeared along the trail which we were to take on
our return and we could procure no further infor
mation from anyone whom we after encountered.
Especially reluctant was our guide whom we en
gaged at La Paz. Incidently, I might state that our
visit was far from welcome, especially by the Mex
icans. "This information is in line with that which I
gave you in person and if I can be of any service to
you or the gentlemen of Congress, I will be glad to
serve you, busy as I am, for patriotic reason, irre
spective of any inconvenience that it might cause
me.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 29
On reading the statement I inquired how
far away were the troops which he had seen.
"About one-eighth of a mile," he replied.
"Could you recognize the faces as Japan
ese?" "Oh, no."
"Did they wear uniforms?"
"No. They had on Mexican baggy
trousers and big sombreros."
"Then your only evidence that they were
Japanese was that single statement of the
informant." "Yes; but they drilled so perfectly that
they could not be Mexicans."
"Might not the explanation of that be that
a few Japanese officers were drilling them?"
"I had not thought of that," he replied.
After some desultory conversation I in
quired whether there were many Japanese
fishermen along the coast.
"Yes, lots of them."
"About how many do you suppose?"
"O, I could not say."
"Well, make a guess; how many do you
think you saw — 5000?"
"Oh, no, not nearly so many."
"Well, 500?"
"No, not so many as that."

30 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
"One hundred?"
"Yes, more than that; perhaps 200."
The upshot of that Interview satisfied me
that he had no real evidence of "Japanese
troops" in Mexico.
I can supply the name of the alleged "ship
builder" if needful. I do not think he had
any intention of deceiving, or any ulterior or
malicious purpose in his statements.

THE TURTLE BAY STORY
When the Japanese navy was chasing
German war-ships out of the Pacific Ocean
in 1 9 14-15, they searched the coasts of
Lower California. In January, 1915, the
Asama Kan entered Turtle Bay and
grounded in the mud. In due time It se
cured help from other Japanese vessels,
landed its guns and ammunition on the shore
— a process that required several weeks. In
the midst of it an "enterprising newspaper
man" wrote up a "fine story" — what he saw
with his own eyes, absolutely true as to facts
and absolutely false as to interpretation, and
It got into all the papers. The denial from

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 31
Washington a few days later received scant
attention. The reporter "put it over" the
American people, earned his money, and in
ternational relations were further embit
tered. But "fine stories" do not easily die, even
though denounced by our Government. In
July, 1 91 6, Mr. Henschen in an article in
the Forum, filled with bitter denunciations of
and insinuations about Japan, made the fol
lowing statement: "A high United States
officer told me 'that we know that the Japan
ese incident at Turtle Bay was not an acci
dent ; we have reason to believe that they ran
the war-ship aground so as to give them an
excuse to make observations and to prepare
Turtle Bay as a landing place.' "
It would be interesting to know who that
"High United States officer" was.

JAPANESE TROOPS IN MEXICO
Since the time of our "peaceful war with
Mexico," many stories have been circulated
about Japanese aid for Mexico, Japanese
"alliance" with Mexico and "Japanese troops
in Mexico."

32 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
On January 30, 19 16, the Boston Sunday
Globe stated that there were "90,000 Japan
ese in Hawaii and 30,000 in Mexico organ
ized and ready to fight at a moment's notice."
A few weeks later, I saw the statement
on "a reliable authority" that there were
150,000 veteran Japanese troops in Mexico.
In the June Issue of the Century Magazine,
Mr. Frank B. Vrooman had a striking article
entitled "Our Next Step." He there says
"I am looking for a coalition between Ger
many and Japan after the war Is over — I am
not sure that it will wait till peace Is signed —
to break the Monroe Doctrine once for all.
"Another interesting circumstance was the
reported discovery, among some captured
papers of Villa, of a treaty with Japan giv
ing this gentleman a million dollars for the
right to land an army In the United States.
"I have been told by an officer of the staff
of the War College at Washington that there
are 400,000 Japanese soldiers In Mexico."
The July issue of the Forum contained the
rabid anti-Japanese article by Sigmund
Henschen, already referred to. He there
states that "the latest estimate of our mili
tary authorities show one quarter of a million
Japs in Mexico."

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 33
In view of these very specific figures given
on "high authority," I wrote to the Secretary
of the Federal Council of the Churches of
Christ in America located at Washington,
asking him to make Inquiries at the Depart
ment of State and the War College. After
his investigations he wrote me July 6, 1916,
from which I quote the following sentences :
"At the Japanese Embassy I secured from the
Chancellor a statement from an official report of
Japan issued for June, 1915, of Japanese in various
countries in the world. According to this state
ment there were in June, 1915, in Mexico 2^J2
Japanese males and 16^ females, making a total
of 2737 in all. He said of coarse there were no
Japanese soldiers as such in Mexico. There might
he Japanese laborers who had enlisted in the Mexi
can army for the income, and some of these per
haps may have been advanced to subordinate official
positions. Beyond that he did not think that there
was any truth in the statement of Mr. Vrooman.
"1 then went to the War College and saw the
particular officer whose duty it is to ascertain every
thing appertaining to Mexico and the Mexicans,
Japan and the Japanese, and he simply scouted the
idea that there were 400,000 Japanese soldiers in
Mexico. He did not believe that there were as
many as /pooo, and when I told him of the number
reported to me from the Japanese Embassy of all
who were in Mexico, he said he did not think there
are as many as that in Mexico now, because some

34 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
of the Japanese had come out of the country since
the outbreak of hostilities. Neither he nor other
officer of the College had any idea as to who had
made such a statement to Mr. Vrooman. They did
not wish to be quoted, but they said I could say
that the War College had absolutely no authority
for any such statement."
It may not be amiss to note that all these
stories about masses of Japanese troops in
Mexico have ceased to circulate since Jan
uary, 19 1 7. Had there been truth in them,
the Japanese soldiers would of course still
be in Mexico and we could not fail to hear
about them.
That an able and shrewd man like Mr.
Vrooman could really believe that Japan
made a treaty with Villa and agreed to pay
him a million dollars for the right to land
Japanese troops in Lower California is to
me beyond belief. Instead of describing the
report as an "Interesting circumstance"
should he not have described it as a patent
falsehood floated by sinister and malicious
interests ?,

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 35

JAPANESE TROOPS IN THE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
This Is a theme that American jingoes
frequently emphasize. One statement I have
already quoted from the Boston Globe.
An ex-cavalry officer (whose name I can
give) of the United States Army who had
spent some years in the Philippines told me
in a personal conversation in December,
19 1 5, that there were 120,000 Japanese old
soldiers in Hawaii, and that they had their
arms in their homes and were ready for an
uprising at a moment's notice. Fortunately
I was able to report to him the result of my
personal investigations at fifteen plantations
— all the principal ones — on the three im
portant islands of Hawaii only nine months
previously. Of the 89,715 Japanese popu
lation (December, 19 14), Japanese males
numbered 54,783 and females 24,891 ; these
figures include children, of whom there are
more than 20,000 boys and girls.
At the plantations one of my standard
questions put to the managers was in re
gard to the story about Japanese soldiers

36 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
and their concealed arms. Everyone without
exception insisted that the story was without
foundation. With many managers I went
into the houses of Japanese workers — many
of whom were absent at their work. Man
agers go freely at any time into the houses
of the workers and know very completely
what is in them. No military weapons of
any kind have been found. The assertion
that Japanese soldiers smuggle in their rifles
by the thousands, with the necessary ammu
nition. Is one which I should think the cus
tom house officials would keenly resent.
Those who circulate these stories seem to
assume that all the 90,000 Japanese in
Hawaila are men, whereas about 40,000 of
them are women and children.

JAPANESE TROOPS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
The ex-cavalry officer referred to above
also told me that there were 200,000 Japan
ese in the Philippines appearing, of course, as
laborers, tradesfolk, domestics, etc., of whom
150,000 were veteran troops. He rejected

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 37
my doubt saying that he had lived there and
knew what he was talking about.
I wrote, however, to the Immigration
Bureau at Washington, who referred me to
the Department of War. From them the
reply came that the first census, taken in 1903,
showed that the total number of Japanese
then in the Philippine Islands was less than
a trifle over 900 and that the arrivals and
departures In the interval made the present
population (1915) 7651, not including chil
dren born in the Philippines.
How an American army officer can make
such reckless statements, bound to rouse need
less suspicion and unjustifiable enmities on
the part of those who have no means of
correcting false statements, passes my under
standing.

JAPANESE SPIES
Stories of Japanese spies have been In
vestigated and have also been found to be
bottomless. An officer in one of our im
portant churches in the Middle West assured
me with manifest indignation that Japanese
had purchased a lot near the Du Pont Pow-

38 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
der Works at Wilmington, Del., in order to
be able to blow them up in case of conflict
between America and Japan.
At the close of that very meeting a news
paper reporter asked permission to say a
word. He stated that an important news
corporation in New York had become so in
terested in the story that it had sent a lawyer
to Wilmington to Investigate the facts. He
found no evidence whatever of any Japanese-
owned lot in the entire region.
I have no doubt that there are Japanese
"secret service" men in America keeping
watch of all that we are doing and informing
their government. But does not the govern
ment of every other important country in the
world do the same?
But that every Japanese who takes photo
graphs or goes fishing or boating is to be
suspected as a spy is too ridiculous for any
sober man to accept; yet the daily papers fre
quently chronicle a Japanese who is found to
be taking photographs on the Hudson river,
or taking soundings of San Francisco Bay or
Monterey Bay ! Do our newspaper men not
know that all our bays and rivers are charted
and sounded and the records published and
are for sale? Japanese spies are not so fool-

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 39
Ish as some of our newspaper men apparently
believe and would make us believe.

AMERICAN SPIES IN JAPAN
Has it ever occurred to critics of Japan's
spy system that America sends spies to
Japan? The following paragraphs are taken
from the article by Sigmund Henschen
already quoted above. He, of course, does
not intend to disclose any American secrets,
and we have already noted that his state
ments are not absolutely reliable. There is,
however, no reason to question the accuracy
of his statement here in regard to an Ameri
can spy in Japan. But one cannot help won
dering what Japanese think of American
spies :
"An American, whose name for obvious
reasons must be withheld, did secret service
work for us in Japan. He is personally
known to the writer. He has a scar of a
bullet on his forearm; he got it for going
too close to the fortifications in the harbor
of Nagasaki, preferring the wound to a term
in jail."

40 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

A JAPANESE SPY IN MANILA
Mr. Henschen also discloses a story not
altogether creditable to America in the case
of a Japanese who offered a bribe to an
American sergeant for the plans of Corre-
gidor Fortress. "The sergeant delivered a
false set of plans and asked for $50,000.
. . . They haggled over the price. . . .
He placed the Japanese under arrest. . . .
The Jap had the false plans, but ultimately
the Jap had to be released because no money
had changed hands."

JAPAN'S RELATIONS WITH
MEXICO
An Item frequently stressed by anti- Japan
ese agitators has been the effort of Mexico
to secure Japanese friendship to aid her in
her opposition to America.
"It must not be forgotten," says Sigmund
Henschen, "that Felix Diaz was sent on a
special mission to Japan and that just recently

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 41
Carranza sent one of his high officials on a
similar visit."
Such writers, of course, find It convenient
not to state that Japan has systematically re
ceived with significant coolness the advances
of Mexico. Did these writers ever hear that
the Japanese Government went so far as to
refuse official reception to Felix Diaz ?
The Mexican Emmbassy that was on its
way to Japan was actually stopped at Van
couver by the cablegram (Feb., 1913),
which announced Japan's decision not to re
ceive the Embassy. What a rebuff and
affront !
And have these hysterical Japanophobists
ever heard that Japan applies to Japanese
emigrants to Mexico the terms of the "Gen
tlemen's Agreement" with America? This
act of self-restraint is due to Japan's desire
to maintain friendly relations with America.

42 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

ALLEGED JAPANESE PLANS TO
SEIZE THE PHILIPPINES
This Is the theme that delights the jingoes.
They see in Japanese papers, in Japanese
naval maneuvers, in Japanese diplomacy,
evidences of secret plans and astute policies
for the annexation of those islands.
A particularly acute case of Japanophobia
developed in 19 13 when California passed
her anti-alien land law. While Count
Okuma was assuring bellicose Japanese that
there was only one possible way of settling
the American-Japanese question, namely by
appealing to the Christians of America to
apply to this problem the principles and the
spirit of Jesus Christ, not only American
papers but military and naval officers in
America and in the Philippines, were almost
hysterical over the dangers of the situation
and our unpreparedness to meet it with ade
quate military and naval forces.
That this statement is not extreme let me
quote from the report of a public hearing
given by the House Committee on Naval
Affairs, December 15, 19 16:

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 43
"I am not suffering from any vision," de
clared Captain Hobson before the House
Committee on Naval Affairs. "In May,
1 9 13, and some weeks afterwards, our
troops in Corregidor Island were busy by
day and night with their guns. The harbors
were blockaded with mines and our troops
were sent out. The Government itself was
ready to go to the Pacific coast. The Sec
retary of the Navy Is present. I will ask
him. In case it is not true, he can deny it."
No denial was made and the jingoes of
the country were satisfied that America just
barely escaped war with Japan.
Mr. Henschen, whom I judge to have been
a military officer at that time in the Philip
pines, has described the situation so graphic
ally that I reproduce it in part.
"There came a cipher message to General
BeU. There came also our mobilization on
Corregidor Island.
"It was on May 20, 1913, that a United
States Officer's command in an outlying dis
trict received an order to report at once to
Manila. The order was from General Bell.
That night the same order was received in
every outlying post of the Philippine Islands.
The mobilization of our troops in Manila

44 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
began. Speed was the command; forced
marches were necessary. The command of
one officer covered fifty miles In forty-eight
hours. Arriving at Manila they found a
strict censorship had been put on the cables.
They learned their orders. All the American
forces were to be concentrated on Corregidor
Island. They were to prepare to combat a
Japanese landing, the object of which was
Manila. They were to hold out till the fleet
came. If the Japanese landed at any other
place it was a foregone conclusion that they
would overrun the Islands until they reached
Manila. In Manila everything but guns,
ammunition and food was abandoned. In
fantry and light artillery were transported to
Corregidor. The cavalry was, too; but its
horses were left behind. All the ammuni
tion that could be gathered up around the
Islands was brought to the fortress. (Full
details follow of forces and position given.)
"Day by day messages from the War De
partment became more alarming; day by day,
to prevent a panic, the people were told it
was only a maneuver; day by day for two
months an enemy's fleet was expected, but it
did not come. What happened?"
Mr. Henschen goes on to state that PresI-

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 45
dent Wilson, in compensation for securing
from Congress the repeal of the Panama
Canal Toll Act, got the British Government
to use its influence with Japan and call her
off 1 The agent in the case he states was
Sir William Terrill !
But what really happened to cause that
mobilization in Corregidor, stated so em
phatically by Capt. Hobson and so graphic
ally described by Mr. Henschen? I have re
peatedly sought an adequate answer.
The captain of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company's vessel that took Dr. Shailer
Mathews and myself to Japan In Janu
ary, 19 1 5, told us with utmost expllcit-
ness and wrath what he knew : "The Japan
ese actually landed 10,000 troops not far
from Manila and were on the point of
attacking the city, when for some unexplained
reason they withdrew!"
Dr. Mathews and I both protested that
such a story was incredible. Had that
actually taken place, an American-Japanese
war would have been on. Moreover, had
that taken place, all the world would have
heard about it. It could not happen, we in
sisted, without some word about It getting
into the papers.

46 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
He then gave us In great detail a state
ment to the effect that Governor Forbes and
General Bell after vainly trying to persuade
the editors of the two local papers, who had
secured the news, to suppress it, invoked the
aid of a particularly influential citizen of
Manila. This citizen was a special friend
to the captain and later told him all the
details. By his aid the Governor actually
succeeded in stopping the publication of the
news and thus in keeping the world from
knowing what Japan had done! We pro
tested our incredulity In vain. The captain
stuck to his guns and told us several more
equally incredible statements about Japan's
outrageous behavior.
For several months thereafter I Inquired
of men hailing from Manila, but have found
no corroboration for the captain's story.
But what was It that really happened to
cause the hysteria in Washington and Ma
nila? What occasioned the sending of that
cipher message? and what caused the mo
bilization In Corregidor? I have heard of
no adequate statement either from Washing
ton or from the Government at Manila.
In May, 1917, however, on a train from
St. Louis to New York I fell into conver-

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 47
satlon with an artillery officer who had re
cently returned from the Philippines. He
gave me what sounds like a plausible solu
tion. The cipher cable referred to, he said, told
of a Japanese naval fleet headed toward the
Philippines! It turned out that the ships
were merchantmen!
Another explanation given me a little later
by a civilian who had been long in Manila
was that a cipher message from Washington
had not been correctly decoded and that that
was why General Bell mobilized the forces
so precipitately.
I do not profess to have solved this ques
tion. But from the evidence thus far re
ceived I am not ready to believe that the
Japanese landed troops on the islands, nor
that a fleet of Japanese battleships was
headed for the Philippines with plans of
attack, nor that Japan had at that time any
belligerent plans that would justify the scare
and the mobilization of American forces in
Manila.

48 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

AN ANTI- JAPANESE HYMN OF
HATE
As a part of its anti-Japanese campaign,
the Hearst papers published In the summer
of 1916, the music and words of a song by
Edith Maida Lessing, entitled "Lookout!
California Beware!" The character of the
words justifies the comparison of the song
to the famous or infamous German "H3min
of Hate" against England by Ernst Lis-
sauer. To set off the "hymn" in striking form
a full page five colored cartoon was ap
pended, yellow, black, green, purple and
white depicting Japan with green eyes and
most revolting face stretching her long hands
with pointed finger-nails, across the Pacific
to seize Lower California, her battle-fleet
being seen on the green of the ocean.
The cartoon as well as the song is copy
righted. Neither may, therefore, be repro
duced. The chorus of the "Hymn of Hate,"
however, and a few selected lines from the
successive stanzas will give a fair idea of the
spirit and of the choice language used.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 49
Chorus.
"They lurk upon thy shores, California !
They watch behind thy doors, California !
They're a hundred thousand strong.
And they won't be hiding long;
There's nothing that the dastards would not dare !
They are soldiers to a man.
With the schemes of old JAPAN 1
Lookout ; California ! Beware !
"But something's going to happen
That will shake things up, perhaps.
If we don't start to clean out the JAPS !
"There's a murmur that affirms
We're brothers to the worms.
That serve us in a meek and lowly manner;
But while we watch and wait.
They're inside the Golden Gate !
"They've battleships, they say,
On Magdalena Bay !
Uncle Sam, won't you listen when we warn you?
"And they're waiting just to steal our California !
So just keep your eye on TOGO
With his pocket full of maps.
For we've found out we can't trust the JAPS !

50 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

INSULTING CARTOONS
The Hearst papers have published a num
ber of insulting cartoons which could not fail
to Instill poison into the minds of all un
guarded readers — for a cartoon discloses at
a glance more contempt and animosity than
can be expressed in many words.
The New York Evening Journal, for in
stance, on April 26, 191 6, published a large
realistic cartoon showing the Japanese battle-
fleet of fourteen distinguishable vessels in
full steam across the Pacific with the head
and shoulders of a giant Japanese soldier
back of the fleet viciously grinning. Beneath
the cartoon in large type are the words :
"With Japan it is not 'by and by,' or 'some
day,' or 'if we are attacked we shall see
about it.'
"Japan is ready NOW. Japan has two
millions of men trained to fight now, and
weapons with which they can arm at an
hour's notice.
"When the eye of intelligence looks from
America westward across the Pacific, this
picture is seen — a great fleet, and beyond it

Anti- Japanese War-scare Stories 51
the face of Japan and a great army,
READY. "What WE have THEY want."
Other cartoons of similar nature and spirit
have appeared at various times in the past
three years.
It should perhaps be added that since
April, 1 9 17, the Hearst papers have ap
parently stopped their anti-Japanese cam
paign. SOME SAMPLES OF ANTI-
JAPANESE EDITORIALS
The anti- Japanese jingo press of America
has not only sedulously circulated sensa
tional stories about Japan but has from time
to time indulged In editorial attacks upon
Japan. The New York American, for Instance, on
April 10, 19 1 6, devotes an entire page in
large type to a discussion of the Yellow
Peril. "THE YELLOW PERIL CANNOT
BE AVOIDED by SIMPLY SHUTTING
OUR EYES TO IT."
"We Americans are a gullible people . . .

52 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
"All Asiatics are unmoral and many
Asiatics are shrewd.
"The Japanese are both absolutely un
moral and extraordinarily shrewd.
"The only question which ever occurs to
the Japanese mind, when considering any
action is the question as to whether or not
that action is expedient.
"The Japanese mind is wholly unable to
understand, for instance, the indignation felt
by Americans against the wrongs and indig
nities put upon Belgium by Germans and
upon Greece by the Allies.
"... the Yellow Peril is THE ONE
VAST MENACE WHICH THE FU
TURE HOLDS FOR US.
"JAPAN STEADILY PURSUES HER
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR UPON
US. "OUR WEAKNESS AND OUR
RICHES TEMPT JAPAN'S CUPIDITY
AND SELF-CONCEIT— THE TWO
POWERFUL MAIN SPRINGS OF ALL
JAPANESE ACTION."
One can hardly avoid the wonder
as to what may be the motives of the writer
of the above editorial.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 53

GARBLED QUOTATIONS FROM
THE JAPANESE PRESS
In the autumn and winter of 1915-16,
many syndicate articles on the Japanese
menace were published. Among the writers
whose productions had wide circulation was
Mr. George Bronson Rea, editor of the
Far Eastern Review (Shanghai, China).
These articles were collected and issued as
a pamphlet entitled "Japan's Place in the
Sun — The Alenace to America. Compiled
from authoritative Japanese sources." The
front page was made glaringly startling by
an enormous red sun with vivid red rays
streaming across the page.
When I went to Philadelphia In January,
19 1 6, I was repeatedly questioned by men of
standing In regard to the reliability of the
articles. I was told that unless some effec
tive reply was made to Mr. Rea, American
opinion in regard to Japan's international
policies would be seriously affected.
On looking the articles over, I found them
scholarly in form, replete with damaging
quotations from the Japanese and presented

54 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
with much show of fairness and logic. For
one who could judge of American Japanese
relations only from Mr. Rea's articles,
Japan was hopelessly convicted — even out of
her own mouth.
After careful reading of Mr. Rea's argu
ments and alleged quotations, I prepared a
brief reply, even though I did not have at
hand my material for testing the accuracy
of his quotations.
Mr. Rea's entire argument is a striking
example of special pleading. He not only
selected material to suit his purposes, ignor
ing important quotations that would offset
the position he tried to establish, but to make
his case impregnable he even misquoted his
sources, as has now been proved.
I shall here deal with only one Illustration.
One of his articles was devoted to Japan
ese self-conceit. He treats It under the sug
gestive title "Nippon iiber Alles." He brings
together a number of striking quotations
from Japanese writers showing that the
Japanese are sensitive to Insult, ambitious as
a nation, resentful of wrongs by western
nations and earnestly concerned with the
question of her "world mission." Whether
or not all the quotations given are correct I

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 55
cannot say. One of them is so garbled as to
raise the doubt about all the rest.
From the Kokumin he quotes, in support
of his argument the following sentence :
"After all, the average Japanese trans
cends every other people in respect of ability
and talent." (P. 14.)
The quotation as given supports Mr.
Rea's thesis splendidly. Unfortunately for
him, however, when writing another chapter
on the "Weight of Numbers," forgetting that
he had already garbled the quotation, he
gave It correctly in support of his new thesis.
He quotes the Kokumin as opposing Jap
anese emigration. "It is deprecatory (un
desirable) for Japanese subjects to emigrate
to foreign countries and change their na
tionality by naturalization. Japan is one of
the rising nations of the world and it is the
height of absurdity that Japan should send
out many able youths as emigrants to foreign
lands. After all," the Kokumin concludes,
"the average Japanese transcends every
other people of decadent nations* in respect
of ability and talent." — Page 47.
If Mr. Rea had included the words "of de
cadent nations" In his previous use of this
* Italics mine.

56 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
quotation it would have completely refuted
his argument, so he left them out. What is
to be thought of a man who poses as a leader
of American thought in regard to Oriental
questions, who deliberately manipulates his
"quotations" to suit his thesis?

CONGRESSMAN BRITTEN'S
STATEMENTS
Upon his return from a trip to the Orient
in the autumn of 191 5, Congressman Fred
A. Britten of Illinois made a number of
speeches on the Oriental problem. His ad
dress at the Mystic Athletic Club was re
ported by wire in the Los Angeles Times the
next day with a scare head,
"Japs Hate Us, says Britten."
A subhead states that "the only thing that
kept them from Going After Us Some Years
Ago, He Proclaims, was Their Failure to
Float a Great Loan in Europe."
In the text of the report occur these words :
"If Japan could have procured her strenu-

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 57
ously sought war loan of a billion and a half
from Germany, England and France, I be
lieve most of you gentlemen would right now
be occupying trenches on the Pacific Coast."
I at once wrote a letter to Congressman
Britten asking If the report of his address
was correct and, if so, requesting the au
thority for so important a revelation of
Japan's sinister plans. I sent the letter by
registered special delivery. I have been
waiting now two years for the reply. My
surmise is that this outrageous slander on
Japan was picked up In Shanghai or some
similar hotbed of international intrigue. In
view of the Zimmermann disclosure of last
January it would not be difficult to think of
it as originally started on Its course by some
skillful German hint of important state
secrets.

JAPAN'S PLAN TO ATTACK US
IN 1914
In July, 19 1 7, a friend sent me a letter
which had been received from a third party.
It began as follows:
"I am not replying publicly to your letter

58 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
in this morning's Journal because I do not
want to attack Japan during the present
war. But I would like to call your attention
to the following points :
"i. Japan was preparing to attack us in
May, 1 9 14, and would have done so but for
the European war. The Philippine Govern
ment at that time moved all their records
and treasure to Corregidor."
I ventured to write directly to the gentle
man. Among other things I called his at
tention to the fact that the European war
did not break out until August, 19 14, and
that, therefore, the war could not have been
the reason why Japan did not attack us in
May! I remarked that so many anti-Japan
ese stories having, upon investigation, proved
foundationless I would esteem it a favor If
he would give me the authority for his state
ment, so that I might make investigations.
To this he replied. In part, as follows:
"I am somewhat in doubt just what to
say to you. Believing, as I do, that you are,
perhaps unconsciously, playing the game of
the Japanese, it is a question how far I ought
to lay my own cards upon the table. I will
say, however, that the statement that Japan
intended to make war upon us in May, 1914,

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 59
was first told me In 191 5 by a diplomat who
had lived in Japan for some time. His story
was recently confirmed in all its details by a
man high In our governmental service in the
East. In April, 19 14, the Japanese servants
of the former, who were much attached to
him, did everything they could, short of
direct statements, to get him away from Cali
fornia before the first of May; and left at
that time to join their regiments. . . .
"Your statement that nobody in April,
1 9 14, expected a general European war is
absurd. I knew In February that It was
coming ..."
I then wrote inquiring who the "diplomat"
was "who had lived in Japan for some time."
Illness of the writer has thus far prevented
a reply. From the statement of the first
letter, however, that the government "had
removed all their records and treasure to
Corregidor," I surmise that the writer, or
the reporter confused his dates and substi
tuted 1 9 14 for 19 1 3. In that case, I have
dealt with the matter sufficiently. But if this
surmise is correct, then the reason why
Japan did not attack us at that time (May,
19 13), could not have been the Impending
European war! If she had such definite

60 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
plans, why did she not carry them out?
What was it that changed her plans? The
true statement of the case is, I believe, that
she had no such plans.

JAPANESE BUSINESS IMMO
RALITY
Many stories are told of Japanese busi
ness immorality — that Japanese, for instance,
are so untrustworthy that they cannot trust
even one another and, therefore, have to em
ploy Chinese cashiers in all their banks. This
story appears to be known In all parts of
the United States, and is always accepted as
true. It is, nevertheless, absolutely false.
There are indeed Chinese clerks in the prin
cipal banks of Yokohama, Kobe and Naga
saki, the old treaty ports. Considerable
Chinese population dwell In those cities. The
chief foreign bank, moreover, in each of
those cities Is the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation, having headquarters
in China; Its branches are, of course, largely
manned by Chinese clerks. Most Americans
going to Japan with letters of credit get their

Anti- Japanese War-scare Stories 61
cash from this chain of banks, which may
in part account for the story cited above.
In detecting the spurious money that comes
in at those treaty ports, Chinese have proved
themselves remarl<:able experts, which is
another reason for their employment in
banks. I have myself dealt with Japanese
banks in several other cities and have never
seen Chinese clerks. I am assured by Jap
anese bankers that, except in the cities men
tioned, no Japanese banks employ Chinese
as cashiers or in any other capacity.
As for Japanese business morality In gen
eral, let me report a conversation with the
president of a large American firm which
did $20,000,000 worth of business with
Japan in 19 16. He told me that his com
pany had not lost a single dollar because of
Japanese business unreliability. He also
stated that until 1900 his company had had
more difficulty in financial dealings with
Japanese than with Chinese, but that since
1900 they had had better financial relations
with Japanese than with Chinese.
Facts like these ought to be widely re
ported to our people in order to correct the
falsehoods that have been so widely and so
successfully circulated in this country.

62 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
It may be worth while to report here a
particularly Illuminating story about Japan
ese banking In California, Mr. W. V.
Woehlke, in a brilliant but misleading article
published in the New York Outlook, May lo,
1913, stated that a "low standard of business
ethics" was a "distinguishing mark of many
Japanese." In support of this proposition,
which probably few would question (adding
mentally that it is also a distinguishing char
acteristic of many Americans) , Mr. Woehlke
makes the following statement:
"In the spring of 1909, for instance,
twenty Japanese banks (In California) ac
cepted deposits from white and. yellow men.
At the end of the year all but three were
closed, and examinations of the wrecked in
stitutions revealed that they had been plun
dered by every trick and device known to the
shrewdest and crookedest promoter. Simul
taneously with the downfall of the banks
scores of Japanese merchants, individuals
and firms, hastened to the referee in bank
ruptcy, thus forestalling any attempt to
force repayment of loans made to them by
friendly directors of the defunct banks."
This statement by Mr. Woehlke was so
definite that I took pains in September, 19 13,

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 63
to investigate the facts. I learned from the
State Banking Department of CaHfornia that
there never had been more than seven Jap
anese banks in California, of which three
are still doing business, the Yokohama Specie
Bank, having an annual business of $2,073,-
086 (June 14, 1912), the Nippon Bank
($94,244), and the Industrial Bank of
Fresno ($49,594). "The Kawakami
Brothers Bank went out of business soma
months ago paying its depositors in full. The
remaining three banlcs were closed by the
Superintendent of Banks in the year 1909
and are still in his hands for purpose of
liquidation." What the final outcome was of the liqui
dation process I have not heard. I was
satisfied, however, by the statement of the
Secretary of the Banking Department of the
State of California, that many of those who
were accusing Japanese of a "low standard
of business ethics" were themselves open to
the same accusation.

64 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

GERMAN INTRIGUE
On March i, 1917, the country was
startled by the disclosure from Washington
of the secret message from the German
Foreign Office to the German Minister Von
Echhart in Mexico, directing him, in case
war with America should actually occur, to
propose to Mexico that Mexico should join
with Germany In attacking the United
States making war and peace together. The
gain to Mexico would be to "reconquer the
lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and
Arizona." The Minister was also to say to President
Carranza, that "the President of Mexico, on
his own initiative should communicate with
Japan, suggesting adherence at once to this
plan. At the same time offer to mediate
between Germany and Japan."
Many in America, having long entertained
doubts and suspicions of Japan's attitude
toward the United States, waited with some
anxiety to know what Japan would do. The
Indignant reply of Japan's press to the im
plications of the Zimmermann proposal, the

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 65
specific statement of the Foreign Minister
that no proposition had come from Germany
and the assurance by the Prime Minister,
Count Terauchi, that "if it ever came to hand
I can conceive of no other form of reply
than that of Indignant and categorical re
fusal," did much to allay American doubts
and to open their eyes to the sinister methods
of the German Government.
For the first time did Americans realize
that German intrigue for setting nation
against nation involved the whole world.
For the first time were Americans ready to
believe that the anti-Japanese cammpaign
which had been sO long and successfully
carried on in the United States, may have
had a real source in Germany's desire to
estrange these two countries.

A FALSIFIED CABLEGRAM
The California- Japanese situation became
acute in May, 19 13, when the California
State Legislature, in spite of the efforts of
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan,
passed the anti-alien land law. There

66 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
was considerable indignation in Japan and
meetings of protest were held in many cities.
Then it was that some Japanese hot-heads
declared the California insult could be ade
quately met only by war. Then it was that
Count Okuma declared that the only possible
solution of the California-Japanese question
was to be attained, not by war or threats of
war, but by an appeal to the Christian people
of America to apply to the problem the prin
ciples of the Christian religion — the brother
hood of man.
But the actual situation was ripe for in
sidious aggravation of the difficulty. A cable
gram was sent from Japan to America, on
the strength of which Mr. Chester Rowell,
one of California's most able writers and re
sponsible political leaders, in his article pub
lished in the World's Work for June, 1913,
used these words: "While I am writing
these lines a mob of 20,000 Is surging
through the streets of Tokyo, clamoring for
war with America."
As a matter of fact, however, there was
no such mob. I was In Japan at the time and
nothing of the kind appeared in the press.
I have since made careful inquiries and have
been assured by responsible men living in,.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 67
Tokyo, that the cablegram was absolutely
false. The cablegram was devised appar
ently to stir up anti-Japanese feeling in
America. That was the time, it should be noticed,
when the American forces in the Philippines
took fright and were suddenly mobilized in
Corregidor. It would be highly interesting
and doubtless instructive to know what tele
grams were sent to Washington and to Gen
eral Bell and from whom.

ANOTHER CABLEGRAM
On August 8, 1 9 14, four days after Great
Britain and Germany had declared war upon
each other, a cablegram was sent from
America to Japan stating that the entire
American battlefleet had passed through the
Panama Canal on its way to the Orient.
Tokyo was in an uproar of excitement and
indignation; for it was implied that the
United States was going to take advantage
of the great European war to establish its
undisputed power in the Far East.
Americans who have belittled the power

68 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
of the American fleet do not remember that
at that time it was at least twice as powerful
as the Japanese fleet.
Fortunately, Ambassador Guthrie was
near at hand and at once published a flat
denial of the lying cablegram. This quieted
the uproar after twenty-four hours and as
further news arrived from America It became
clear that somebody had blundered or lied.
But serious mischief had been done in Japan
to the friendliness of American Japanese
relations. But who sent that cablegram? And why?
I have frequently raised the question. I
tried to secure information from one of the
Tokyo papers which published the news, but
was told that the source of news was not
a matter for disclosure. In many of my
addresses during the past three years, I have
cited this as an instance of malicious inter
national slander that should be rendered im
possible. After my address at the farewell
dinner given at the Astor Hotel, September
19, 1917, to the new Ambassador to Japan,
Hon. Rowland S. Morris, one of the guests
said to me that he knew the source of that
cablegram — the German-American Chamber
of Commerce of San Francisco. I regret

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 69
that no method has appeared by which to
verify his statement. The entire circum
stances of the case, the known methods of
the German Government and the activities
of the German-American Chamber of Com
merce of New York, make the statement
plausible, to say the least.
In this connection I may refer briefly to
the efforts of this "Chamber of Commerce"
to embroil the situation by telegraphing
August 17, 1 9 14, to Governor Johnson of
California warning him of the danger from
Japanese on the Pacific coast and urging him
to take drastic action in regard to them.
I may also refer to the strain in our dip
lomatic relations with Germany when Baron
Von Schoen, at that time just transferred
from Tokyo to Washington, stated (Septem
ber 22, 1914) that the "Japanese regard
war with America inevitable and that they
harbor an intense hatred of the American
people."

70 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories

ANTI-AMERICAN WAR-SCARE
STORIES IN JAPAN
Americans should realize that an anti-
American campaign has also been carried on
in Japan. Japan's natural appreciation of
and friendship for America has been contin
uously attacked and at one time seemed to
be seriously shaken.
It is no part of the plan of this discussion
to present this side of the case with any full
ness. Two or three instances, however, will
probably be worth while.
I have already described the excitement
and indignation in Tokyo by the fabricated
cablegram sent from America (probably
San Francisco) to Japan, August 8, 1914,
saying that the entire American battlefleet
had passed through the Panama Canal.
That was before Japan had declared war on
Germany. It might well have been intended
to inflame Japanese opinion against America
and make them feel that their real foe was
America. Had this object been attained,
Japan, in all probability, would not have at
tacked the Germans at Kiao-Chau.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 71
Early in September, a telegram was pub
lished in Tokyo from Peking telling of a
banquet given there by eminent Chinese to
an American admiral and his officers. Ac
cording to the telegram the admiral made a
speech in which he warned China to beware
of Japan and her policies; that China's im
placable foe was Japan and that every pre
caution must be taken to resist her encroach
ments. The telegram caused another wave of in
dignation throughout Japan. Whatever the
facts might be of Japan's relations to China
it was manifestly a serious breach of diplo
matic etiquette for an American Admiral to
give the Chinese Government such advice.
But, as in the previous case, so in this; the
telegram was a complete fabrication. This
fact, however, was not known for several
days. In the meantime the poison ran free
course throughout the length and breadth of
Japan. But who sent it ?
In October, 1914, a long circumstantial
account was published In the Yorodzu of
Tokyo, giving an alleged interview In Yoko
hama by "Paymaster Malcock" of the
United States Navy on his way from Manila
to San Francisco. "It appears as though

72 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
war between Japan and my country were in
evitable. ... It is more than probable that
within a few weeks the Atlantic fleet of our
navy will pass through the Panama Canal
and put in appearance in the Pacific. . . .
Already immense quantities of coal and am
munition have been shipped to Hawaii and
the Philippines. . . . Lieutenant Pauter will
take charge of our aircraft. ... I have
received this information from Admiral
Elklns on board the Iowa." Such were some
of the explicit statements. They were so cir
cumstantial that they immediately received
credence as important disclosures of Amer
ica's secret plans to attack Japan.
Of course the "Paymaster" had sailed and
It was Immpossible for friends of America
to see him and find out what he really had
said. After several days, however, it was
discovered that there was no "Admiral
Elklns," nor "Paymaster Malcock," nor
"Lieutenant Pauter" on the rolls of the
American Navy. Investigation finally dis
closed the fact that the whole story had been
concocted in Yokohama. There had been
no interview at all. For some time the con
cocted interview was ascribed to Germans.
At last, however, it was clearly proven that

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 73
a renegade American, to make a few dollars
had taken advantage of the international
situation and had "put over" the fake inter
view. One would suppose that repeated experi
ence of "exploded news" would have made
the Japanese chary of accepting more of the
same variety. Japanese, however, are
much like Americans. Both Americans and
Japanese have short memories in regard to
disproved stories. Just consider how the
Magdalena and Turtle Bay stories, though
completely discredited, still circulate and are
still accepted as "true in spirit if not in actual
fact." Japan would be only too glad to get
a big naval base over here if she could and
will do so as soon as she can — such is the
"fixed idea" of many Americans. So too in
Japan. But it is ever to be remembered that many
utterances in the United States have given
much ground for Japanese apprehension as
to America's ambitions in the Far East. To
mention only one — on October i, 19 14, Con
gressman Mann, House Leader of the Re
publican Party, opposing the Democratic
proposal to make the Philippines independent
in the near future, stated that war In the

74 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
Orient over commercial interests would be
inevitable sooner or later. He Insisted that
we must hold on to the Philippines as a naval
base from which to wage our war for our
commercial, and therefore, for our naval
supremacy in the Pacific.
This address from an official head of the
Republicans of America was cabled to Japan
and had its part of responsibility in confirm
ing Japanese suspicions.
An anti-American story that has had re
peated vogue In Japan for fifteen years. Is
that America was seeking a naval base In
China in order to block Japan's legitimate
rights there. The place named is in the prov
ince of Fuklen, opposite Formosa, a part of
China which Japan, since her annexation of
Formosa in 1896, has regarded as her special
sphere of influence. This story has been the
basis of no little anti-American indignation.
I was for a long time at a loss to account
for the story, so persistent and definite, for
I never had heard in America of desires or
plans for an American naval base in China.
I had indeed been assured by "high authori
ties" at Washington that there was no truth
whatsoever in the stories.
In April, 19 15, however, I was told by

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 75
"high authority" that at one time (1898 or
1899) a plan was under consideration by the
Chinese Government of making a contract
with the Bethlehem Steel Corporation to es
tablish a large foundry and build drydocks
in the province of Fukien where China con
templated making an important naval base,
but that the project had fallen through. It
is easy to see how such a fact could easily
be twisted by experts on international slan
der. The Japanese story about an American
naval base in China Is much more plausible
and also of much greater significance to
Japan than the corresponding American
stories of a Japanese naval base at Magda
lena Bay. Yet the latter stories have done
much damage to the attitude of American
feelings toward Japan.
Americans have developed much suspicion
of Japan because of her treatment of China
in connection with those important "twenty-
one demands" presented to China in January,
191 5. I am not one of those who exonerates
Japan in that transaction. But it has become
clear that the occasion was utilized to the
full by German agents in China and in
America to aggravate the situation to the
utmost possible degree, estranging China and

76 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
Japan and also estranging America and
Japan. The full inner history of that up-
happy episode is still to be written.
Had German desires been achieved of
bringing China and Japan into actual conflict
and especially of hurling America and Japan
against each other, the ammunition of both
these countries that was going in such large
amounts to aid Russia, Great Britain and
France would have been needed at home,
which would have been of great service to
Germany. Even as it was, the hold-up of
Japanese ammunition in the winter of 19 15
was one of the causes of Russia's frightful
defeat in the spring and summer of that year.
The anti-American campaign In Japan was
so far successful that In the autumn of 19 14
when Japanese troops were leaving Japan for
China, it was popularly believed in certain
sections of Japan that they were going to
fight America !
It was a providential thing for the rela
tions of America and Japan at that juncture,
when Japanese popular feeling was decidedly
tense against America, that the Federal
Council of the Churches of Christ in
America sent to Japan its special embassy
of friendship and goodwill. The results of

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 77
a single month (February, 191 5) of wide
speaking and still wider publicity given to the
Embassy by the daily press of Japan, became
one of several factors that served to allay
those feelings and to convince the responsible
citizenship of Japan that there still remained
in America a large body of citizens whose
attitude toward Japan was fair and friendly.

A JAPANESE MISREPRESENTATION
OF AMERICA'S AMBITIONS
It Is not difficult to see how America's
prosperity and spirit and also her deeds can
be easily misrepresented by those who desire
to stir up anti-American feeling in the Orient.
The Yorodzu, one of Japan's sensational
and jingo papers, commenting on America's
entry into the war, insists that the Monroe
Doctrine has been thrown to the wind. Its
argument, as reported in the Japan Maga
zine for October, 19 17, runs as follows:
"The United States can no longer be said
to confine her attention to her own side of
the Atlantic, or even the Pacific ; for she has
already annexed Hawaii, taken the Philip-

78 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
pines, and extended her influence far beyond
her national boundaries; and her present par
ticipation in the European war carries an
American army into Europe. How can the
Monroe Doctrine be now said to exist?
America is feeling the result of the enormous
wealth amassed during the first two years
of the war, and she is now stretching out her
giant hands toward other lands, notably to
ward China, yes and toward Russia too. For
years America has been courting the friend
ship of China and she is now prepared to
concentrate her enormous energy on that
country. As the Chinese are more influenced
by money than in any other way the wealth
of the United States has a great attraction
for the Republic, which now has a chance to
allow itself to be enveloped in money power.
In the same way, America is endeavoring to
get an inside place in Russia's esteem. A
delegation has visited Russia, the country's
railways are to be reorganized, Russian en
terprise in her Far Eastern possessions is to
be assisted, and concessions for mines in
Saghallen may be granted. With her left
foot in China and her right foot striding
across the dominions of the Slav, the Amer
ican giant has its eye on Europe too, where

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 79
England and France are only too glad to
welcome assistance and interest. Japan has
only to do with America's activity In the
Orient, which must not be expected to de
crease; and Japan must watch American in
fluence in the Far East with the same assid
uity that the upholders of the Monroe
Doctrine watched European influence in
America."

CONCLUSION
Enough has now been given I think to
convince any candid person that serious inter
national tension between America and Japan
has been fomented by those who have circu
lated, and especially by those who have in
vented, false International "news." As I
stated at the beginning, I do not believe that
the anti-Japanese campaign in this country
has been solely due to German interests.
Many who have participated in It have not
had the slightest thought that they were
serving those interests. Most of those who
have circulated anti-Japanese stories have
been, I doubt not, earnest patriotic Ameri
cans in whose minds nevertheless, suspicions

80 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
of Japan had been developed by the skillful
use of alleged "news," which, nevertheless,
upon investigation has proved utterly false.
Mr. George Kennan, in the New York
Outlook for September 20, 19 16, made a
brief summary of the anti-Japanese stories
which he had found to be false. It Is so strik
ing that I venture to give It :
"In a long series of alarms, beginning with the San
Francisco public school troubles, the Japanese have
been accused of preparing for war with us by buy
ing 750,000 rifles from the Crucible Steel Company
(1908); of plotting against us in Hawaii and the
Philippines (1909) ; of excluding Americans from
the Manchurian mining fields (1909); of discrim
inating against our commerce by means of trans
portation rebates on the Manchurian railways
(1909) ; of seeking to monopolize the truckfarming
lands in California (1909) ; of sinking the dry-dock
Dewey in Manila Bay (1910); of planting mines
in that same bay (1910) ; of taking soundings and
making charts of California harbors (1910); of
secretly conspiring with Mexico against us (1911) ;
of attempting to secure Magdalena Bay, in Lower
California, for a naval base (1911); of secretly
taking photographs and making maps on the Coast
of Alaska (1911) ; of trying to get supreme control
in Manchuria under pretense of fighting the bubonic
plague (1911); of conspiring with Mexican insur
gents against us (1912) ; of persecuting the Ameri-

A.nti-Japanese War-scare Stories 81
can missionaries in Korea and trying to abolish
Christianity there (1912) ; of conspiring with Ger
many to overthrow the Monroe doctrine (1912);
of attacking the American Consul in Newchang
(1912) ; of forming an alliance with our west coast
Indians against us (1912) ; of threatening to attack
Java, and thus compelling the Dutch to seek our
support (1912) ; of trying to buy Lower California
from Huerta (1914); of attempting to get spies
into the fortifications of the Panama Canal (1915) ;
of seeking to secure a foothold in Lower California
by running a vessel ashore there and sending war
ships to assist in salvage operations (1915); of
conspiring with Germany to get control of the San
Bias Indian lands in Panama (1916) ; of conspiring
with Russia against us at least two or three times
in the last ten years."

In a personal note of October 14, 1917,
Mr. Kennan says : "This list of false stories
was taken from my own records, covering a
long series of years, but it is far from com
plete as printed. I included only the more Irn-
portant lies, but there were dozens of others.
I had no doubt years ago that there was some
powerful agency behind these misrepresen
tations, but I did not begin to suspect Ger
many until this year."
It is to be hoped that Americans will learn
to question International slander and will. In

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
time, provide some effective method for ex
posing the falsehood of tales intended to
estrange peoples and nations.
It ought to be possible to compel pro
moters of suspected stories to disclose the
sources of their Information, in order that
the Impartial public may be able to estimate
Its value.
Papers that continuously publish the mis
leading productions of sensational writers
whose primary interest is sensation regard
less of truth, ought in some way to be made
to feel the heavy hand of public condemna
tion. International falsehoods that tend to
estrange the good will of peoples and to
plunge them into conflict is a crime pecu
liarly heinous and should be suitably pun
ished. The time to prevent war is not when
a crisis has developed, and suspicions and en
mities have become so acute that no explana
tions are credited — but rather months and
years in advance.
From the great tragedy of Europe Amer
ica should learn that full, truthful and accu
rate Information in regard to international
affairs is a matter of momentous importance.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 83

AFTER-WORD
Just as the manuscript of these "War
Scare Stories" goes to the printer. Secretary
Lansing has made public the text of the
"understanding" agreed upon by the Japan
ese and American Governments regarding
their respective policies in regard to China.
This document is so important and so well
fitted to dispel misunderstandings and sus
picions that it seems desirable to include it
here and also some of the paragraphs of the
statement Issued by Secretary Lansing in con
nection with its publication. "Department of State,
"Washington, Nov. 2, 1917.
"Excellency — I have the honor to communicate
herein my understanding of the agreement reached
by us in our recent conversation touching the ques
tions of mutual interest to our governments relating
to the republic of China.
"In order to silence mischievous reports that have
from time to time been circulated, it is believed by
us that a public announcement once more of the

84 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
desires and intentions shared by our two govern
ments with regard to China is advisable.
"The governments of the United States and Japan
recognize that territorial propinquity creates special
relations between countries, and, consequently, the
government of the United States recognizes that
Japan has special interests in China, particularly in
the part to which her possessions are contiguous.
"The territorial sovereignty of China, neverthe
less, remains unimpaired, and the government of
the United States has every confidence in the re
peated assurances of the Imperial Japanese govern
ment that while geographical position gives Japan
such special interests they have no desire to discrim
inate against the trade of other nations or to dis
regard the commercial rights heretofore granted
by China in treaties with other powers.
"The governments of the United States and Japan
deny that they have any purpose to infringe in any
way the independence or territorial integrity of
China, and they declare, furthermore, that they
always adhere to the principle of the co-called
'open door' or equal opportunity for commerce and
industry in China.
"Moreover, they mutually declare that they are
opposed to the acquisition by any government of
any special rights or privileges that would affect
the independence or territorial integrity of China
or that would deny to the subjects or citizens of any
country the full enjoyment of equal opportunity
in the commerce and industry of China.
"I shall be glad to have your excellency confirm
this understanding of the agreement reached by us.

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 85
"Accept, excellency, the renewed assurance of my
highest consideration. (Signed) Robert Lansing.
"His Excellency Viscount Kikujiro Ishii, Ambas
sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan,
on special mission."
In his statement accompanying the announcement
Secretary Lansing said:
"Viscount Ishii and the other Japanese commis
sioners who are now on their way back to their
country have performed a service to the United
States as well as to Japan which is of the highest
value. "There had unquestionably been growing up be
tween the peoples of the two countries a feeling of
suspicion as to the motives inducing the activities
of the other in the far East, a feeling which, if
unchecked, promised to develop a serious situation.
Rumors and reports of improper intentions were
increasing and were more and more believed.
"Legitimate commercial and industrial enterprises
without ulterior motive were presumed to have
political significance, with the result that oppo
sition to those enterprises was aroused in the other
country. "The attitude of constraint and doubt thus created
was fostered and encouraged by the campaign of
falsehood which for a long time had been adroitly
and secretly carried on by Germans, whose govern
ment as a part of its foreign policy desired especially
to alienate this country and Japan that it would be

86 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
at the chosen time no difficult task to cause a rup
ture of their good relations.
"Unfortunately there were people in both coun
tries, many of whom were entirely honest in their
beliefs, who accepted every false rumor as true,
and aided the German propaganda by declaring that
their own government should prepare for the con
flict, which they asserted was inevitable, that the
interests of the two nations in the Far East were
hostile, and that every activity of the other country
in the Pacific had a sinister purpose.
"Fortunately this distrust was not so general in
either the United States or Japan as to affect the
friendly relations of the two governments, but there
is no doubt that the feeling of suspicion was increas
ing and the untrue reports were receiving more
and more credence in spite of the earnest efforts
which were made on both sides of the Pacific to
counteract a movement which would jeopardize the
ancient friendship of the two nations.
"The visit of Viscount Ishii and his colleagues
has accommplished a great change of opinion in
this country. By frankly denouncing the evil influ
ences which have been at work by openly proclaim
ing that the policy of Japan is not one of aggres
sion and by declaring that there is no intention to
take advantage commercially or industrially of the
special relations to China created by geographical
position, the representatives of Japan have cleared
the diplomatic atmosphere of the suspicions which
had been so carefully spread by our enemies and
by misguided or overzealous people in both
countries.

Anti -Japanese War-scare Stories 87
"In a few days the propaganda of years has been
undone, and both nations are now able to see how
near they came to being led into the trap which had
been skillfully set for them.
"Throughout the conferences which have taken
place Viscount Ishii has shown a sincerity and
candor which dispelled every doubt as to his pur
pose and brought the two governments into an atti
tude of confidence toward each other which made
it possible to discuss every question with frankness
and cordiality.
"Approaching the subjects in such a spirit and
with the mutual desire to remove every possible
cause of controversy the negotiations were marked
by a sincerity and good will which from the first
insured their success."

The above documents made public by the
Departrnent of State have naturally called
forth important commendatory editorials
from leading papers throughout the country.
Significant, however, of the general spirit of
the Hearst papers in reporting these docu
ments is the insertion by the New York
American (November 7, 1917), in black-
faced type of the following sentence, cal
culated to instill suspicion and maintain ani
mosity In the minds of Its readers :
"The understandng was reached without
the United States having made any conces-

88 Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories
sions concerning the question of Japanese
immigration to this country."
Why do not these Hearst papers tell their
readers that Japan settled the Immigration
question ten years ago by the "Gentlemen's
Agreement," voluntarily stopping, without
legislation on our part, all new labor immi
gration from Japan to this country? In con
sequence of the rigid enforcement by Japan
of this "Agreement" not only has there been
no increase of Japanese labor in America
but there has been a positive decrease of
15,141 males between the years 1908 and
1916. The relations, moreover, between Japan
ese and Americans on the Pacific Coast have
been manifestly improving for at least four
years. The sympathetic strike of Japanese
waiters with the Waiters' Union of San Fran
cisco (August, 1916), and the resolutions
proposed by four local unions at the annual
Convention (October, 19 16) of the Cali
fornia State Federation of Labor, asking for
authority to organize Japanese labor, are but
two of many signs that the irritation that
had been growing in California for some
years is now subsiding.
These are facts of Importance that all

Anti-Japanese War-scare Stories 89
Americans should know. The press should
bring forward the evidences of the new situ
ation, instead of continuing to inflame the
feelings of their readers by insinuations that
are Insulting to the dignity and honor of
Japan and imply a situation that In fact does
not exist.

Printed in the United States of America

BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS
ON
Japan and American-Japanese Relations
By SIDNEY L. GULICK
BOOKS
Evolution of the Japanese — Social and Psychic. $2.20 postpaid.
The White Peril in the Far East. $.60 postpaid.
Working Women of Japan. $.60 postpaid.
The American-Japanese Problem. Illustrated. S1.85 postpaid.
America and the Orient. S.35 postpaid.
The Fight for Peace. Cloth, S.60; paper, S.35 postpaid.
How Christian ideals and principles of universal
brotherhood appUed to International Relations can
alone secure world-justice and permanent peace. As
illustrating the general discussion, American relations
with Mexico, China and Japan are considered at some
length.
The Church and International Relations: Japan.
$1.10 postpaid.
The complete report of the activities of the Commission
on Relations with Japan established in 1914 by the
Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America
as presented at their Quadrennial Meeting held at
St. Louis, December, igi6. The appendix contains
all the pamphlets, up to that date, which had been
prepared for information of the Churches on the
questions at issue. PAMPHLETS
Anti- Japanese War-scare Stories. S.25.
Asia's Appeal to America. $.10.
Adequate Protection for Aliens. $.05.
AComprehensivelmmigrationPolicy and Program. $.10.
China and the Nations. $.03.
New Japan and Her Problems. S.03.
America's Asiatic Problem and its Solution in a Nut
shell. S.03.
These books and pamphlets can he secured from
World Alliance for International Friendship
105 East 220 Steeet, New York City.

VALE UNIVERSITY

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