Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-16
COUNT 'METSUKATA
- n
Disting Mshed ] Japanese
Statesman i 2 This City.
HIS SECRETARY TALKS
RECENT POLITICAL ALLIANCES
APPROVED BIZ JAPAN.
The Count and His Party Are Making
Tour Of the
World.
HIS SECRETARY TALKS

Count Matsukata, who is enjoying his first
visit to the capital Of the United States,
and who was a caller on President Roose-
welt today. The count reached Washington
late yesterday afternoon. He was accom-
panied by his two sons, Goro and Otohiko,
the former of whom is interested in ship
yards at Tokyo, and the latter is at
tendant at school at Springfield, Mass.
He was also accompanied by Mr.. E. Fukai
an officer of the Bank of Japan, who is
acting as the counts private secretary, and
Mr.. T. Maegata, director general of the
revenues of the imperial government.
Count Matsukata was busy man today.
He arose at o'clock and, after breakfast
received number of distinguished call
ers in his apartments at the Arlington
Presented to the President.
Later he was escorted to the State De-
partment by Mr.. Takahira, the Japanese
minister here, and introduced to Secretary
Hay. The latter official then escorted his
visitors to the White House and presented
Mr.. Matsukata to President Roosevelt.
Afterward Mr.. Matsukata and Minister
Iakahfra went on a sightseeing tour of
the executive departments Mr.. Matsukata
is well advanced in years and is somewhat
tndisposed as a result of fatguing travel.
The count sent word to an Evening
Star reporter who called that he was too
busy to submit to an interview, and sug-
gested that Mr.. Fukai would answer any
questions that might be asked.
Recent Political Alliances.
Mr.. Fukai. who is a young man. is thor
oughy acquainted with the general condi-
tons of his own country, and he talked en-
tertainingly. He said that the recently es-
ta'blished alliance for all matters of politi-
cal interest in the far orient between Japan
nr,1 Ly,Cy md had h,a, yn6 IN To N
with an unqualified and general approval,
and that there was at no time any opposi-
ton to such an alliance on the part of any
political party in Japan.
The sphere of activity contemplated in
the convention was, he said, limited to the
far orient, and that it would undoubtedly
conduce to the maintenance of peace in
that part of the world and maintain the in
tegrity or comfy Of the entire Chinese ma
ton. The attitude of Japanese statesmen
was that the various circumstances of de-
velopment and racial qualities made the
Japanese the logical and circumstantial
mediator between China and the newer
civilization. y
Mr.. Fukai would not admit, however, that
the new convention with England aimed at
Russia or any other single power The new
Russian convention with China, whereby
Russia agreed to withdraw in every sense
from Manchuria. would, in his judgment,
be observed by Russia, even were there no
convention between Japan and Great Brit
ain. r~-t
There was no disposition In Japan to con-
strue the British-Japanese alliance into
guard to compel Russia to observe her own
convention as to- Manehuria- Port Arthur,
he continued, was already occupied by Rus
slams and was practically Russianized. Mr..
Fukai said he did not know of any senti-
ment in Japan which would move the Jap
anese to attempt the election Of Russians
from the Port, by virtue of the new con-
vention with England or otherwise.
He spoke confidently. however, as to the
part in the history of Corea. which the new
convention might play if circumstances so
demanded. Any incursion into Corean ter
ritory would, he thought, come manifestly
within the provision of the new treaty and
without special reference to Russia. Mr..
Fukai was confident that the Corean unity
was assured by the new alliance between
Japan and Great Britain.
Regarding the recent dispatches from
Japan that the government was confronted
with some obstacles in the matter of plac-
ing a loan, Mr.. Fukai said that he thought
there must be some mistake.
'The government, so far as l am in
formed" he said has had no intention of
making loan other than small one for
the purpose Of carrying out some needed
internal improvements, and this could be
easily taken care of by the banking inter-
ests of Japan