New-York tribune., 1897-07-29
MARQUIS ITO on HAWAII.

The prize mares nest Of the season has been
uncovered by Marquis Ito's Occidental tour.
That eminent Japanese statesman had no sooner
reached Europe than wild rumors Of war began
10 get abroad. He went 10 Spain, and forth
with We We're told that an offensive and de-
fensive alliance against the United States had
been concluded between Spain and Japan The
report was officially contradlcted. but what OF
that? That mere corroborative testimony
to the !mplacable hostility Of the dual antYan-
kee league. Then he went 10 Paris and 10. 4
witty journal of polite society conceived the no.
ton that he was making appeal TO all the Gov
ernmentS Of Europe 10 Intervene To prevent the
wicked Americans from seizlng Hawaii That
notion. once set forth. tickled the silly season
fahoy nightly. and all creation was soon agog
to see the European Powers make minremeat t
Of Uncle sam.
But mark now. how a plain tale shall put
you down" The one man who can best tell
what Marquis Ito's mission is is Marquis Ito
himself He categorically and in the most en-
phatic and unequivocal terms denies that he
has any official mission in Europe whatever or
has had any. save to accompany Prince Arisn-
gawa TO the Queens Jubilee. He has had no
thought Of treaty with Spain or of making ap-
peal to any European Power He never said
that Japan wOnld go 10 the extreme limit to
keep the United States from annexing Hawaii
The whole story Of his brlllcose utteranc-s and
negotiations. and the whole mass of alarmi>t
runors and sp-rnlatons arising therefrom. are
bas-less aS midsummer nights dream.
Nor IS that all The Marquis goes further
than mere denial. He srraightforwardly atirms
that the sentiments Of Japan toward the United
States are most friendly. that the Emperor and
his Ministers are strongly opposed TO Il brllicose
policy toward this country. that Iapane>e oppo-
siton 10 annexation Of Hawaii 10 The United
States Will take no more extended form than
diplomatic protest. made for the sake of pro-
tccing Japanese Interests in the Islands. and
finally that. in his personal opinion than which
there is none more worthy OF The highest re-
gard-"the annexation of Hawaii cannO. Dos
"Sibly provoke IN armed struggle with the
United states" There can h- no doubt That
Marquis Ito voices The authoritative sentiments
OF the Japanese Government and people His
manly words are 4 singing rrbukp 10 those
gh-headed marplois who imagine that nothing
can be done without blnsiering and fighting. and
who see in every diplomatic complication the
menace of impending
MARQUIS Ilo speaks Of Iapanesc gratitude
toward the United States Without undue Ma
tiOna boasiing. il may be said that sentiment
I, iusilhablc II was This country that opened
japan 10 ;hc world and introduced her 10 the
slsterhood Of civilized States II was. ~ an
article printed elsewhere in to-dayS paper re-
minds Us, this country that first. in 1879. CLOSED
lis pos S,oiiircs in Japan and lntrustcd lis mails
Ia the native service 1t was This country that.
,I,. H.. ID
made separate treaty with Japan. recognizing
ihc latter as an equal. entitled 10 he treated ~
civilized nation. For the abolition Of "capitu-
lalons" and negotiation of new and more hon.
ordblc treaties with the great European Powers