The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-11-22
NEW JAPANESE MINISTER
SHORT SKETCH or BARON NISHrS
PREVIOUS CAREER.
The Successor of Count Okuma Wen
Acquainted With Russia aud the
Russians-Ilas Been an ENplprn~.

Baron Nishi Tol>uiiro, the new Ja-
panese Foreign Minister. Is Il native of
the province of kagoshima. says the
Japan Times. Until he was about ~
or % years old he remained III MS
province learning Chinese classics. In
1870 when the country was still in Il
state of turmoil subsequent 10 re re
storation and the Saghalein question
was pending Baron Nishi re"o" 1iUrd
the Importance of making thorough
inspection of the conditions Jf i;ussla.
He started for st. Petersburg Win a
samurai of Scndai at the instance of
the government, who paid all the ~
penses and also the cost of proSecu'-
ing his studies there. Mr.. Dnoderd.
the name of the samurai, understood
Russian little, but hardly enough 70
converse with Il Russian. The in"uu-
venience of Baron Nishi while he Vas
| on board n steamer was very great.
After lie arrived at the Russian raDi-
! tai he devoted his energies 10 learn
| ing and to making an inspection Of
| the affairs of the country. In the
meantime the policy of the Depart
/ ment of Education was changed and
/ he was ordered to return home. He
| did not, however. return. but rem lin
/ cd in Russia pursuing his studies at
! his own expense. At last he entered
a university and obtained degree
of bachelor of laws. Since then he
found it necessary to learn French,
and went to Paris as n student secrc-
tary to the Japanese Legation. Later
on when Mr.. Enomoto (now Niscount)
was appointed Minister to Russia AMI
opened the Saghalien negotiations
with the Russian government, Mr.. Nj
shi was made secretary of the Japa-
nese Legation in Russia. Since then
when Minister Enomoto returned
home by way of Siberia MI. Nishi wa,
appointed charge d'affaires. After the
arrival at st. Petersburg of Count VA
nagiwara. now Minister, Mr. Nishi OBJ
tanned leave of absence and made a
well known exploration through Cen
trail Asia. He left the Russian cab
ital in July, crossed desert in Asia
when it was in the hottest season
passed the Mongolian desert when II
was severely cold, and arrived at Pc.
king in January of the following year
Thence he travelled overland to Shang
hal where he embarked on a steamer
for Japan. The travels he accom-.
plished should be described as one u
the most brilliant deeds of his life
After his return home he was appoint
ed chief secretary of Daijokan (pres
ent cabineD in addition to a similar
post in the imperial household depart
ment. On the occasion of the CORONA
ton of the late Car he accompanied
Prince Arisugawa Taruhito to st. Pc
tersburg, and after the ceremony was
over he followed the Prince on IA tom
throughout Europe. In 1885 he was
for time out of office but was soor
afterwards appointed Minister to Rus
STA. He is man of unflinching ener
gy and reserved manners. The re-
ports he made to the government,
from St. Petersburg when the three
powers interferred with the question
of the Laotung peninsula gave no lit
tie benefit to the country, and foi
these merits he was raised to the pee
h rage with a title of Baron.