The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-31

"nINilsdu Factory. An immense tiger
skin ornaments the floor Of the front
parlor. In the living rooms upstairs
the same Conglomerate furniture is
found. There are office desks OF
| American manufacture mixed with
japanese tables and spindly, frail-
looking Oriental chairs.
Minister Takahira is a great reader
ana mas choice selection of the books
OF his own country and also of China,
being equally familiar with the lat
ter. In these busy times, however,
he gets little opportunity to wander
IN the enchanting fields of Oriental
! literature.
What's the news this morning?" is
his first inquiry as he reaches the
breakfast table.
At his plate he finds the Washington
and Baltimore morning papers, and
an hour or two later he receives those
of Philadelphia and New York He
is an omnivorous newspaper reader.
He Skins through dozens every day.
Every extra" cried on the street must
be bought and brought to him He
catches at a glance the most important
items and he runs through the papers
with the instinct and trained sight OF
a veteran exchange editor. He stud
les them with especial view to catch
public sentiment, especially that on
the Eastern situation He believes in
of the day and as a diplomatist he
recognizes its value in disseminating
his side of any issue. Newspaper cor
| respondents are welcomed at his lega-
| ton.
Minister Takahira and his staff have
not abandoned all their Oriental Gus
toms, but retain with great reverence
some of the ceremonies so popular in
! their Fatherland. On the Emperor's
birthday pictures of the Emperor and
Empress of Japan are placed in a
conspicuous manner in the parlor and
the Minister, his household and suite
pass before them, bowling low and ac-
cording them the same courtesy and
| reverence they would were their SOW
ereigns there in person. Their custom
having been observed. a legation din
ner follows. in which Japanese
dishes predominant. and the Emperor
and Empress are toasted and patriotic
| speeches and sentiments are INDUCED.
The japanese minister is a diplomat
by profession, having entered the i'm
peral service In 1875. He was trained
in the Foreign Office at home and his
career illustrates the success Of his
teaching. During the twenty-eight
years he has held posts of high honor
in China, Korea, Holland. italy, Aus
tria and the United States. He is
graduate of the best japanese college
Tat Toxic, and is a man of intellectu-
ality and culture. He is learned in
Chinese philosophy and language, as
well as in that of his own country. He
speaks and writes fluently in several
European languages and is an able
English scholar.
This is not his first service in Wash
ingtOn, as he was appointed attache
to the Japanese legation in this ooun-
try I'm 1879 and became its secretary
in 1881. A brief review of his career
illustrates the success that he has
met with In the diplomatic service. He
became secretary of the Foreign Of
flee in 1883: was made charge daft
flares in Korea In 1885; acting consul
general at Shanghai in 1897; chief of
political bureau of the Foreign Office
In 1890; consul general at New York
in 1891; minister resident to Holland
in 1892. envoy extraordinary and min
lister plenipotentiary to Italy in 1894;
envoy extraordinary and minister plen-
ipotentiary to Austria in 1896; Vice
Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1899.
and appointed envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to the
United States In 1900.
Minister Takahira. soon after his
appearance in Washington Is repre-
sentative of Japan, frankly stated the
great object of Japanese diplomacy,
for the accomplishment of which he
was to work industriously.
I'VE want the power that flows from
a great trade and great prosperity
at home. The effors now making by
Japan to increase the commerce be-
tween herself and the United States
and the rest of the world are in them
selves a guarantee of long peace. The
two countries are seeking the same
object, but each can obtain IL best and
quickest through the peaceful competi-
ton Of trade, which will bring about
IL. - F..t1 .11t,t 4
mercial interest between the two peo-
pie.
Japan feels very near to the United
States. This feeling of friendliness
began with the visit of Commodore
| Perry to our shores, which let in a
great flood of new life from the west,
| and Il has increased as American in
genuity has shortened the distance,
measured in hours of travel bewteen
the two countries.
TT has also been very greatly in
| creased and deepened, l am sure, by
the association of the armies of the
Empire and of the Republic in the
movement to safeguard the highest in
/ terest Of civilization In the East. This
association revealed in a striking way
| the fact that the United States is now
| an Eastern power, and that the inter-
ests of America are very closely re-
lated to those Of Japan. 1t was the
beginning, / believe, of a new impulse
in the development Of a far greater
trade in the Pacific and of warmer
feelings of friendship"
The Japanese Minister has been alb
solutely truthful and straightforward
in all this controversy" was the I'M
usual comment of a high State Depart
ment official a few days before HOSTILE
ties broke out between Russia and
! Japan.
In such "A delicate situation. where
the favor of the United States was
so sincerely desired by both parties,
this compliment is unusually signifi-
cant and represents the Japanese dip
lomat in an unusually favorable light.
All negotiations that have taken place
| at the State Department in which
Oriental questions were involved have
hitherto been characterized by am
biguity and in some cases by down.
right duplicity. 1t was refreshing to
the department officials to do business
with a diplomat and with a govern
ment whose representations were
found to be true and accurate.
Copyright. 1904. by T. c. Mcclure.)
~~
The Teacher. Now Johnny can