Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-17
JAPAN and UNITED STATES
Minister Komura Freely Expresses the Most
Friendly Sentiments,
PHILIPPINES SHOULD COME THIS WAY
Mikado's Government would Prefer
Uncle Sam Above All Others to
Have Control of the Future
of the Islands.


minister plenipotentiary of his majesty the
emperor OF Japan-the new Japanese minis
ter to the United States-passed through the
city yesterday afternoon on his way to
Washington to assume the duties OF his
position. He did not alight from his train
while Ia Omaha, but proceeded directly TO
Chicago, where he will stop for couple OF
days before going to the capital OF Uncle
Sans domain. He arrived from Japan about
ten days ago and delayed In San Francisco
a few days.
Minister Komura Is small thin, wiry,
nervous, intelligent and very polite in
dividual. He chatted very freely with Bee
representative and displayed considerable
knowledge OF the way things have been run
ming lately in this country. He was par
ticularly interested In the manner In which
the Paris peace commission Is progressing
and upon this and other matters frequently
transformed himself from the interviewed
to the interviewer. This interest probably
was the consequence Of the minister's
former acquaintance with this country, for
this is his second visit to the United States.
Just twenty years ago he journey westward
over the continent for Japan, after spending
five years at Harvard university.
81 remember Omaha in 1878. but then as
now I had no opportunity to stop here" he
said. ~ can notice, however, that the city
has grown much larger. / presume that l
will see many changes in the cities that
knew twenty years ago and the states will
seem like new country to me- How long
will stay and when do I expect to go back
to Japan again! Well. If 1t were my say I
should like to live in this country all my
life.'
Japan and the Philippines.
Japan has always been the supporter OF
the United States during the war with
SPAIN" answered the minister in response
to a query regarding his governments atti-
tude toward the United States demand for
the Philippines. at now is in thorough
sympathy with the United States in its con-
tention for the Philippine Islands. AS a
matter OF fact 1t will not affect Japan to
have any country in control of the islands
as long as the ports are open. There are
very few Japanese residing on them, the
principal portion consisting Of about sixty
merchants who do engage in business there.
Consequently Japan has little interest, such
as might result were 1t called upon to give
protection to any great number OF Its peo-
pie.
From a commercial point of view, how
ever, Japan Is vitality interested In the own
ershtp of the islands. Every year its trade
with the Philippines has increased until it
has become OF very respectable proportions.
Naturally my government is Interested in
seeing that this trade shall continue and
as it firmly believes that the ports OF the
island will be freely opened to Japanese
ships II the United States governed them
1t would rather see this country gain con-
troll OF the islands than any other.
Japan also, was not averse to the action
OF the United States in annexing Hawaii
There are a large number Of Japanese resi-
dents on this island. but the government Of
Japan feels that they will receive the rights
of citizenship as much as anyone else
should they choose to live under the stars
and stripes. AS in the case OF the Philip
pines. my country believes that it will enjoy
as many trading rights in the island as
heretofore"
Policy Towards China.
While Japan is watching with interest
the spectacle China is presenting as bone
of contention for European powers. the gov
ernment does not seem to feel alarmed that
the Chinese empire Is in immediate danger
OF dismemberment Minister Komura gave
some idea of Japan's policy in connection
with this eastern situation in the following
WOiuo. Japan udS Dul OHe WISH lOT IHe
future OF the Chinese empire-that it may
remain intact and independent. 1t naturally
takes this position from the fact that it has
a strong commercial foothold in that coun-
try and wishes to retain it as exclusively
as possible. 1t would not be so successful
In business way should the country pass
into the hands of European nations. And
1t Is but right that Japan should have the
biggest share of the business, for it has
done more than any other country, owing
possibly to its proximity, to start China ON
the path toward civilization.
And l do not look for any dismember-
ment Of China in the near future. OF
course. there are all sorts OF talk to the ef-
feet that the European nations are divid-
ing the country between themselves But
l believe with the statesmen of my country
that the powers will not, for a long time at
least. succeed in settling upon a partition
that will be satisfactory to them. Then, too,
most Of the continental powers are continu-
ally having too many little matters be-
tween themselves to settle. Thus, while
Russia may be encroaching here and Eng
land there and others may be taking hand