Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-26
TATENO RECALLED
A Change in the japanese Embassy
Here.
ME REASONS FOR THIS ACTION
No Connection With Recent Dip
lomatic Negotiations.
ID 4 N E w MIN is TIE r

TOXIC. July 2G-Gozo Tateno, Japanese
minister to Washington. has been recalled
TO japan and Mr.. Kukino, an experienced
diplomat. has been appointed 20 succeed
him. This change Is made on account Of
dissatisfaction at the manner In which
Minister Tateno has conducted the neyo-
tiat.ons with the Washington government
looking to the modification Of the extra
territorial treaties.
The Recall Explained.
The news from Toxic of the recall of the
japanese minister. Mr.. Tateno, Is confirmed
here, but the reason assigned for the
Change Is said to be erroneously stated
While there have been negotiations between
the governments of Japan and the United
States since 1882. looking to a revision Of
the treaties. 1t happens that little has been
done In that respect recently, and that the
rev notes that have passed contain no mat
ter that was Objectionable to our govern
pent or that In the slightest degree couli
subject MIR. Tateno to censure by his own
government. Furthermore il can be posi-
lively stated on the highest authority that
the change In the legation here is in no
way connected with the communications
addressed to the Japanese government by
the Department of State respecting the
Corean imbroglio.
Proof positive to this effect is afforded by
II.
Tateno has been appointed. which would not
have been the case had the Japanese gov
ernment been disposed to resent Secretary
Gresham's representations, and second,
while Mr.. Tateno received his formal recall
within the last forty-eight hours he was
notif1ed about three months ago, and before
had expired. and that he would soon receive
notice of his recall. The fact is that the Japa-
nese government has its diplomatic service
under rigid civil service rules and one of
Its fea lures Is a rotation in Office No Japa-
nese minister. II Is said, serves more than
three years at one post save in exceptional
eress cannot be safely transferred from one
minister to another.
No Stigma to the Recall.
II Is a fact that Mr.. Tateno has served in
Washington nearly four years, and that his
relations in that time with our government
have been of the most cordial nature. He
Is not, 1t is stated, detached from the Japa-
pese diplomatic service, but will return to
Japan bearing the rank of envoy extraor-
dfnary unattached, and if the p-ecedents
are followed, probably will become vice min
lister to one of the departments, a sufficient
evidence that no stigma attaches to his re-
call. Mr.. Tateno's history is interesting.
He comes from one of the highest families
In Japan-one of the "two-sworded" class.
He was originally and for many years an
officer in the imperial household, and when
Gen. Grant visited Japan he was specially
designated by the emperor to escort the
general In his tour through the empire. A
strong attachment sprang up between the
two men, many valuable presents were ex-
changed. and friendly correspondence
was kept up between them until the death
Of Gen. Grant Mr. Tateno afterward be-
came governor of the province Of Osaka
and by his kindly administration endeared
himself to the large foreign colony. who
recognized his efforts in their behalf, es-
pecially on the occasion of the great fo ods
BY handsome testimonials. He held this
post for ten years and then became a MEM
relnquished to accept the appointment, in
January, 1891. of japanese minister to
Washington.
The New Minister.
Mr.. Kentaro Kaneko. who will succeed
Mr.. Tateno. is man of erudition and of
distinction in his own country. He was ed
ucated in the United States and is a gradu-
ate of Harvard and of the Cambridge Law
School. He is about forty-two years CT age
and has acquired fame as a parliamenta-
r1an- He visited the leading countries of
Europe and made exhaustive study of
their systems of government and, returning
to Japan, framed the code of parliamentary
practice which governs their senate and
house. He was general secretary of the i'm
perfal house of peers a position correspond
ing to that of secretary of the Senate in
our country, and since then has held the
post OF vice minister of agriculture and
commerce.
Inasmuch as the treaties have been er-
change in the legation here. it may be stat
cd that the Japanese government has been.
Tor many years, striving to secure a revis-
Ion of these treaties, and with every pros
pect of final success. In the treaties of 1857
5S. between the United States and Japan il
was stipulated that Americans committing
onenses in Japan should be tried by the
American consul general, consus. Other
nations followed this lead in their treaties
with Japan, and thus the country fell under
what is known as extra territorial juris-
< tn rla aoin rEa
ahai-s of foreigners in Japan completely
under the rather arbitrary control of courts
composed of the consuls representing the
commercial powers.
Revision of the Treaties
There was not much objection to this
when Japan was in the early stages of
civilization. but of recent years the best
element of the country has resented keenly
the degrade ton, of being classed with semi
barbarous nations, and has strven to have
the treaties revised so to permit their
own well organized judiciary to deal with
all matters commonly within it's jurisdiction
IN civilized countries. The United States
was the first nation 10 hold out promise of
more liberal treatment in this respect. This
promise, though. was not fulfilled, and in
recent years IL has suffered other nations TO
advance so far beyond it that treaties with
them have been practically completed by
which Japan takes her stand among civil
lized nations, with full admission of her
ability to administer justice.
Another Version.
The above is seni-official explanatio
of the case. There is another story told
however. in explanation of the change in
the Japanese legation here that finds be-
lief among those hostile to the adninistra-
ton. This story IS not at all inconsistent
with the statement that the Japanese gov
ernment was not inspired in its action by
recent diplomatic correspondence with the
United States. The story in brief is that
Mr.. TatenO has become persona non Srata
To the Secretary of State on the ground
that he was indirectly responsible for the
recent criticisms published in American
papers of the course of Secretary Gresham
In the Japan-Corean controversy. The re-
latiOnS between the Two officials have been
extremely cordial on. the surface, and the
minister has been almost daily visitor
To the State Department since the begin
niaS Of the COrCan controversy.
Notwithstanding this fact IL is intiinated
that Secretary Gresham felt ;hat The Jap
anese minister had improperly made public
certain Information that had reached him
IN his official capacity and that was not in
tended for public circulation in the present