San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-28
COUNT ITO TALKS
.Japan'S Fri0ndlineSS TO
America Assured.
SHE WILL ONLY PROTEST
BUT WILL NOT BE
BELLiC0SE.
Her Subjects Will Be Protected,
Naturally, But Japan Will
Not Do More His Mis-
sion Is Fully EX-
planned.

New York, July 2S.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Paris says: If war
should break between the United
States and Japan it will be In spite Of
Marquis Ito personally, as well as
politically.
In the first place." said Marquis
Ito, Il wish you would contradict a
statement that l am here charged with
an official mission to strongly protest
in the name of my government against
a usurpation fraught with peril.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. The statement is ineXact in
every particular. Not only have l no
official mission in Europe now-I never
even had any, nor was 1 ever charged
with such duties by the Japanese gov
eminent since / have been in Paris I'M
til today.
81 believe firmly that the Hawaiian
question will be settled without the
peaceful relations between Japan and
the United States being disturbed in
the least.
81 came to Europe as one of the
suite attached to Prince Arisugawa,
who represented the imperial jubilee
ceremonies in England. That comn1em-
Grafton being over, the prince has re-.
turned to Japan and my duties, only
nominal at any time, are now entire
ly at an end. So 1 am at liberty to
avail my self of the permission the
emperor accorded me to take a holt
day in Europe.
A.l Il ~ I,s,,
to Spain to arrange terms for mutual
support in the attitude of Spain and
Japan visa Wis the United States. This
is quite untrue.
when l was prime minister the
emperor bestowed an order on the King
of Spain. The insignia was never sent,
as it was not convenient at the time
for anyone of sufficiently high rank to
leave Japan. But the visit of Prince
Arisugawa 20 Europe gave the emperor
an occasion he had been looking for,
and so, taking advantage of the OPP
portunity, the prince went to Spain to
present the order to the king, and /,
as a matter Of course, went along.
But, although / met the foreign
minister and all the other officials the
relations of Japan with America were
never alluded to and never preached
the subject of SPANS difficulties in
Cuba, and similarly my visit to the
Due de Mandas was only prompted
by politeness, and was an acknowledge
ment of the courtesy he showed me at
San Sebastian.
II do not think 1t possible that any
opposition manifested in Japan to the
annexation of the Sandwich Islands by
the United States will take any more
extended form than q mere protest
made-remember this point-made in
order that the interests of Japan in
those islands may not suffer injury.
Japan is simply seeking to protect
herself and her subjects, and this she
has a perfect right to do, this she is in
duty bound to do: but that she will
look after her interests in other than
dignified diplomatic way is absurd.
"The emperor. know, will not sap
port any bellicose policy. All my
friends in the ministry or in the control
of the different branches of the gov
eminent are of the same mind as the
emperor upon this subject, and Japan
csc public sentiment is one of strong
friendship for the United States.
Thus the Hawaiian question cannot
possibly bring about conflict either
armed or diplomatic, with the Ameri-
cans, in spite of the jingoes.'