The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-24
NEW JAPANESE Minister
Mr.. kOgOrO Takahira on His Way
to Washington.
Arrives Mt San Francisco and Talks
Gunrdediy of the Chinese Situa-
tion-Docs Not Blame the Empress
DowaEer - His First Diplomatic
Experience in This City in 1870.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 29.-Kogoro
Takahira, the new japanese Minister to
the United States. who arrived on the
steamer America Maru today, is one Of
Japans most experienced diplomats and
has been for the past year in Tokyo filling
the Office OF Vice Minister of Foreign AZ
fairs.
Minister Takahira calls Washington the
cradle of his diplomatic career" for he
first came in contact with a foreign Gov
eminent there as a member of the jap
| anese Legation from 1879 to 1888. He af-
terward returned to this country as Con-
sui General at New York City in 1891, so
| that this is his third mission to this coun-
try. After one year in New York he was
accredited a Minister to Rome, a post
which he held but a short time being
thence transferred to the much more i'm
portant office of Japanese representative
at the Court of Vienna, where he remained
until last year, when he was recalled to
Japan.
In Washington he succeeds Minister 10
mura. who in March WIS transferred to
companied by his wife. who has been with
him throughout his diplomatic career He
brings no suite aside from his secretary,
NJ. Abe. Regarding the present situation
in the East he spoke guardedly and with
reserve. saying:
1T is difficult to express an opinion con-
corning the grave reports from China for
hn
published We have absolutely no com
munIcation open with the district involved,
| and we cannot tell how much, if any, OF
what we hear is reliable.
Before expressing an opinion l would
first want to know exactly what had taken
place. and then, il the tragical events
have actually occurred, We must enquire
how much influence the Government troops
of China have over the insurgents, before
We can fix the matter of responsibility.
We have 10 reason at present to be-
lieve that the Emperor and Empress Dowa-
ger have any agency in the present trou-
BILE Up to the time Of the tidings of the
outbreak the attitude Of the Chinese Gov
eminent toward foreign powers had been
most friendly. Even among the Chinese
people there are certain mandarins who
are frankly friends OF progress and desir-
GUS Of maintaining cordial relations with
the powers.
I'm my own country many changes in
various forms are in progress; we lave
no grounds for apprehension as regards
our steady advance toward civilization,
which is the true aim OF the Government
and the people,"
By special command of the Emperor Mr.
Takahira. during his few hours stay in
Honolulu. made 4 searching enquiry into
the late labor troubles in the islands with
the japanese plantation laborers and the
condition Of the laborers since the adn1is-
sion of the territory to the Union and the
abolition Of contract labor. He says the
late ,ehtrictions cut on the immigration
of japanese by the japanese Government
are expected to be only temporary, until
the fears aroused in the States by the
large immigration OF Japanese thither
shall have been settled.
While in Honolulu Mr.. Takahira met a
deputation Of japanese merchants who pre-
scented to him a memorial on the subject
OF the losses sustained by them through
the burning of Chinatown to check the
spread Of the plague. This memorial the
Minister will present to the Administra-
ton in Washington. He expects to leave
for the East on Thursday.