New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-03
ITO'S SON-IN-L4W'S VIEW.
To Maintain Integrity Of China, Srith
Preponderdnce IN COred.

Baron suvematsu. son-in-law of Marquis Ito,
the bismarck Of Japan" and formerly Minister
~ Interior and Minister o. Communication m
the japanese government. arrived IN this city
yesterday from Toxic. by way 81 Victoria, r. g.
AID Seattle.
The baron. who left Yokohama on February
1o is on his way 90 England. and viii sail on
Saturday. lie declared at the Waldorf-Astoria
that De IS not on an ofc'al mission. but is seek
ing health. lie IS a graduate II Cambridge
University. and speaks English nuenty.
Tho baron expects the war 90 last AZ least
wear. and perhaps two years. Regarding the
friendly attitude q France toward Russia,
Baron suye1ratsu said: Japan. with nothing
more 10 fear from Russia. can fight any power
fin the East on sea, ..rd France cannot send an
army % invade japan"
While the baron said his country would dep
recate The involving ~ any other country in the
war. DE was sure that. should France enter into
the conflict on the side q the car. az least one
or two countries would help japan.
The eN-ruiuister continued:
II We win there VIII he no attempt At ter
ritorial argrandizement. should We defeat Rus
STA in Manchuria. we 90 rot mean to keep (, for
ourselves The maintenance % the integrity o:
the Chinese Empire Is what we aim At So too
IN the case % Corea, with the difference that
we expect some preuondeIance q influence
there as a national safeguard. n Manchuria
fails into the hands % a foreign country. Corea
VIII soon follow. which cannot help becoming a
constant menace. AZ TO the commercial inter
ests in Corea q must be recognized that ours are
greater than those Of any other country. with re-
gard 90 Manchuria. We have large commercial
interests. but IN common with other nations.
like the United States and England our inter
ests are somewhat greater. but nevertheless we
are quite prepared 20 participate on an equal
footing. We are not lighting for our interests
alone hut for the common interests Of all nations
especially those 81 the United states and Great
Britain. Russia demands the neutrality OF
Corea i IS like a game II chess. and the other
man demands shn exclusive use % the board.
We always trust Americans. and wish 20 be
good friends with them. We tDtrcat the moral
support az the American people. as we do that
81 ali civilized nations We ask no more. our
army and navy can combat with any single ma
ton ia THE East ou The sea- Now THAI Wa have
virtually beaten Russia. do not mind fighting
France ou sea. and ] do not think she can bring
army % invade Japan. should France IN
terfere IN this war other nati0us-one or two
VIII come 10 the sgcc0r q Japan. 81 We cannot
1rht her sfuClchauded. should France become
Russia makes ~ incumbent on the countries to
help each other n either is attacked by two
powers. Corea- ~ course, IS an ally Of Japan
But ga our eyes COTCa is not worthy of con-
Fideratiofl. We respect the sovereignty Of Co
rea- But what is Corea, after allT'
lie ridlculed the IDEA that Corea could DO a
power within the purview Of the treaty.
''SN wDafhv is an important factor I'm modern
warfare, and moan 20 see 10 u that the sym
pathy of England Ora not alieuated from us by
explaining that we shan carry on the war &C
c0rdinE 20 the laus q civilized warfare and
with spirit q modern civilization