SEES MENACE TO U.S. IN JAPAN'S ATTITUDE

Matsukuro Asato, Writing as American Citizen, Points Out Vulnerable Points in Nation's Colonial Possessions.

IMMEDIATE CONFLICT WOULD BE DISASTROUS

This Country Bound to Lose Pacific Island Holdings Should War Be Forced Upon It at Present Time.

Editor The Times:

During the past five years Japan has not been satisfied with the treatment accorded her subjects about to enter the United States under the recently existing treaty. On more than one occasion such disapproval has been publicly manifested.

Under a tentative agreement Japan has pretended to be satisfied to keep her laborers at home. Japan has repeatedly and continuously, during the past year, claimed to be the close friend of America.

Japan has claimed she has no use for any of our island possessions, the Philippines or Hawaii. The world has noted that the Pacific Coat is not adequately fortified; that there is no sufficient naval force on this coast to defend it; and that for the first time in the history of the United States, its position as a nation owing to its colonial possessions, is vulnerable.

If forced into conflict with Japan today, this nation would immediately lose possession of some, and possibly all of its Pacific Island possessions; and suffer on its coasts.

The United States, not entirely blind to these conditions, is increasing its navy, but has failed to furnish a fleet for Pacific Coast protection. Before a fleet could reach us from the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Horn, Japan could do our country incalculable harm.

Panama Canal Will Help.

The completion of the Panama will enable the United States to send its fleets to this coast with such dispatch that any nation could not harm us greatly before the arrival of such a fleet.

Japan, recognizing our weakness, and anticipating our changed condition when the Panama Canal have been completed, has concluded to negotiation or force a treaty with us to the advantage of her subjects. By so doing, she may make demands upon us which we cannot as a nation possibly recognize nor agree to fulfill.

Her subjects have overrun the island possessions of the United States. She is in wireless communication constantly with her subjects on the island of Luzon, with evidently no good purpose. The Pacific Coast has about 300,000 Japanese within two states -- and in Canada a large number of htem can easily cross the border in case it becomes necessary so to do.

Most of these foreign subjects are fresh from a feudal country or recently from the warlike fields of a struggle with Russia -- trained soldiers, loyal to the Mikado, and fanatically ready to die for the land of their birth.

The commander of the Japanese navy has been called home, and with his associate commander. Prince Fushiani, embarked on the Minnesota for Japan June 20.

Recently the greatest and only naval dock in Manila has been mysteriously scuttled and sunk. The cause of its injury seems to have originated with the Japanese -- they are believed to have sunk the dock. This adds weakness to our weakness, and is favorable to the coming position to be taken by Japan.

The treaty rights between Japan and the United States recently has been renounced by that country, leaving our countrymen in Japan and Japan's subjects here in no position to claim treaty rights and privileges.

Why was Prince Fushiana called home so suddenly? The world is not furnished with any satisfactory answer.

Prince Fushiani has been hob-nobbing with the crowned heads of Europe, and since the death of King Edward VII, the peaceful ruler has noted the coming into power of George, his successor.

Great Britain, our friendly ally in time of war, and support her with army and navy. Would Great Britain and Japan alike rejoice to see the completion of the of the Panama Canal delayed? War with Japan probably would indefinitely delay its completion.

Would Great Britain enjoy seeing us humiliated by at least a temporary success of Japanese arms? Our temporary loss of our island possessions would gratify her wishes.

Would Japan profit, and could she demand a better treaty by threatening to strike us where are weakest, and before our strength shall increase? If so, now is her time to demand a more favorable treaty. We are near the time when Japan's demands for the placing of her subjects on an equal footing with the people of other lands in our country, will be made.

We will be obligated to accede to her demands or refuse them. To accede to them may mean an incalculable injury to our country, to which we will not namely submit. To refuse them may mean a war of destruction such as our country has never seen.

Keep your eye on Japan!

MATSUKURO ASATO

Seattle, Wash.