The Forrest City times., 1897-07-30
SIMPLY LINGO TALK.
Marquis Ito Repudiates Foreign
 Correspondents' Stories.
NE IS NOT ON AN OFFICIAL MISSION
He Does Not Believe Japan Will Look After Her Interests in Hawaii in Any Other than Dignified
 Diplomatic Way.

NEW YORK. July 29.--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 politically.
 ''ln the first place" said Marquis Ito, "l wish you would contradict state ment that l am here charged with an oificia! mission to strongly pro- test in the name of my government against usurpation fraught with peril Nothing could be further from the truth. The statement is in- exact in every particular. Not only have l no official mission in London now-l never even had any, nor was I ever charged with such duties by the Japanese government since l have been In Paris until to-day. l believe firmly that the Hawaiian question will be settled without the peaceful relations between Japan and the United States being disturbed in the least
 ''l came to Europe as one of the suite attached to Prince Arisugawa, who represented the emperor at the jubilee ceremonies in England. That com memoratlon being over, the prince has returned to Japan and my duties. only nominal at any time, are now entirely at an end. So l am at liberty to avail myself of the permission the emperor accorded me to take holiday in Flu rope.
 Tt has been stated that l have been to Spain to arrange terms for mutual support in the attitude of Spain and Japan viz-a-viz the United States. This is quite untrue.
 When l was prime minister the em- peror bestowed an order on the king of Spain. The insignia was never sent, as 1t was not convenient at the time for anyone of sufficiently high rank to leave Japan. But the visit of Prince Arisugawa to Europe gave the emperor an occasion he had been looking for, and so. taking ad- vantage 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 1 met the foreign minister and all the other officials. the relations of Japan with America were never alluded to, and l never brosched the sub. ect of Spain's diff culties in Cuba, and similarly my visit to the Due de Mandas was only prompted by politeness and was an ac- knoweldgment of the courtesy shown me at San Sebastian.
 Il do not think it 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 a mere protest remember this point t-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 perfect right to do this she is in duty bound to do; but that she will look after her interests in other than a dignified diplomatic way is absurd.
 The emperor, l know, will not sup port any bellicose policy. All my friends in the ministry or in the con trol of the different branches of the government are of the same mind as the emperor on this subject, and Jap anese public sentimenti Is one of strong friendship for the United States. Thus the Hawaiian question can not possi- bly, bring about conflict either armed or diplomatic, with the Americans. in spite of the iingoes."