The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-12
AMERICA HEARS JAPAN
BY MOUTH OF TAKAHIRA
Address by the Mikado's Representative Is Read at
the Dinner of the Silk Association in New YorkaEf
Forgotten Events of Recent History Are Recalled in
justification of the Japanese.

joyment by them of vested rights law
fully acquired. From the outset the repre-
sentations made in Japan's behalf have
been confined within clearly defined linn
its. They may be summed up in a word
respect for the territorial integrity and
Independence of China and Korea; faith
full observance of treaty stipulationS and
due recognition of the validity of the spe-
cial interests created by existing condi-
tions. Japan's action was in pursuance of
clear duty and assured right. and was
fully warranted by her conventional rela-
tions with both China and Korea.
Quotes Recent History.
In 1895 Japan gained a foothold in
Manchur1a by right of conquest. Russia
thereupon took the initiative in interven-
ing on the ground that Japan's occupa-
tlon of the Lao Tung peninsula was a
menace to the peace Of the East and the
integrity of China. Afterwards, first,
through undertakings nominally peaceful
and subservient to Chinese sovereignty
then on pretexts based on internal disor-
ders in China, but at no time justified by
actual conditions Russia herself took
armed possession of the whole of Man
churia. She bound herself by treaty to
withdraw in 1903 but subsequently made
withdrawal contingent upon stipulations
the acceptance of which would not have
LETT q Vestige of real sovereignty to China.
Did not this give Japan as good a right
to intervene in 1903 as Russia did in
1896? To the ordinary intelligence it would
appear that the peace of the East and
the integrity Of China were menaced
quite as much in one case as in the 9TH
er.
But Japan had another and a stronger
reason for intervention. Russia, once the
absolute mistress of Manchuria, held
Korea at her mercy. When she could
with little effort sweep away the feeble
resistance of that kingdom, it did not re-
quire extraordinary foresight to perceive
that she would not permit even an in
dependent Korea to remain as a possible
embarrassment to her future control of
the North Asian littoral.
''Who's a Liar"
Indeed, the immediate past furnishes
Slgn1hcant proofs that Russian agents,
official and unofficial, pursuing the line
OF policy which some term aStute dfplo-
macy, but others know by harsher
name, were blazing the pathway to that
very goal. Herein lay the real menace
to Japan, not alone to her commercial
and Industrial interests, but to her ma
t1onal repOse and security. For this rea-
son she has intervened, not from motives
conquest nor least OF all because of
ranking memories Of the Lao Tung res
cesslon. While the present crisis is in a
sense the affspring of Russia's action In
deal with existing issues and to leave to
impartial history the decision of who
played the more honest part in that af-
fair
Now, however, that the issue has been
Joined and the decision left to the arbitra-
ment of war, further discussion of the
causes which led to this momentous crisis
can possess only an academic value.
While this issue was not of my country S
seeking, she met it calmly and firmly not
in a spirit of over confidence as one un-
derest1mattng a powerful adversary but
with the assured conviction that she is
following the right as God gives her to
see the right, and in the end justice must
prevail.