The herald., 1897-07-29
A JAPANESE
DIPLOMAT
Talks as a Business Man
Ought To
HE HAS NEVER LOST ANY WARS
jAND rs NOT NOW SEEKING TO
FIND ONE
An Attempted Sensation Regarding
English Occupation of Palmyra
Falls Rather Flat
AND rs NOT NOW SEEKING TO
FIND ONE

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK. July 2S.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Paris says: If war
should break out between the United
States and Japan it will be in spite of
Marquis Ito, personally as we'll as polit
icaly.
"In the first place." said Marquis Ito,
II wish you would contradict state
ment that I am here charged with ar
official mission to strongly protest in the
name of my government against usur-
patton fraught with peril.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. The statement is inexact in every
particular. Not only have I no official
mission in Europe now-I never even
had any, nor was l ever charged with
such duties by the Japanese government
since have been in Paris, until today.
Il believe firmly that the Hawaiian
question will be settled without the
peaceful relations. between Japan and
the United States being disturbed in the
least.
attached to the suite of Prince Arisu-
gawa, who represented the Emperor at
the jubilee ceremonies in England. That
commemoration being over the Prince
has returned to Japan and my duties,
only nominal at any time, are now en-
trely at an end So am at liberty to
avail myself OF the permission the EN-
peror accorded me to take a holiday in
Europe.
at has been stated that I have been in
Spain to arrange terms for mutual sup
port in the attitude of Spain and Japan
vis-a-vis the United States. This is quite
untrue. When 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
any one of sufficiently high rank to leave
! japan. But the visit of Prince Arisu-
gawa to Europe gave the Emperor an oc-
casion he has been looking for, and so,
taking advantage of the opportunity
the Prince went to Spain to present the
order to the King, and 1, as matter of
course, went also.
But although I met the Foreign Min
lister and all other officials, the rela tions
Of Japan with America were never al
luded to and I never broached the sub
ject of Spains difficulties in Cuba, and
similarly my visit to the Due de Mandas
was only prompted by politeness and
was an acknowledgment of the courtesy
he bestowed on me at San Sebastian.
Il do not think it possible any oppoei-
ton manifested in Japan to the annex
alton of the Sandwich Islands by the
United Sattes will take any more ex-
tended form than 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, I know, will not cup
port any bellicose policy. All my friends
in the Ministry or in the control of the
different branches of the government are
of the same mind as the Emperor on this
subject, and Japanese public sentiment
is one of strong friendship for the
United States.
Thus the Hawaiian question cannot
possibly bring about a conflict, either
armed or diplomatic, with the Ameri-
cons, in spite of the jingoes."