The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-22
Minister Takahira Talks for The
1'incs-Dispatcl1 About sitr-
alton III Far East.
CHINA MUST NOT BE DIVIDED DE:
Not Fighting for Control Of Great
En1pirc-No Yellow cril--Re-
lation to United States.
BY Frank G. Carpenter.


>
you to-day an Interview. which I have
Just had with Mr.. kogoro Taknhlra. tile
minister from Japan. on the situation In
the far East. Mr.. Takal,ira Is one of
the nbleat Of the diplomats at Washing
ton He has for years been connected
with the foreign office OF Japan. fnd
has also represented his country as min
istcr IN Korea, Holland and Denmark,
italy, Austria. Switzerland and since 1900
ut Washington. He Is man OF broad
education. speaking several languages. In
Guiding English. In which, orr conversa-
ton was carried on. The talk took place
In the. parlors Of the Japanese legation.
Ny frat question was as to what Japan
expects to ret from tho war with Rus
ea @ s0
THAT question can be answered In ono
word," said the minister. Japan ex-
poets Justice. But speaking moro In de-
tail may say that she expects the war
10 result III ouch determination OF
the rights OF the two countries as regards
the North Asian lIttoral as will secure
her against aggression In the future
"What do You mean BY the North Asian
llttoral?' ! asked.
~ mean the territories OF Northeastern
Asia, and more especially those which
border its sea coast below Siberia nar,e-
IS, Korea and Alanchuria.'
Japan and China.
"But how about China. Your Excllency?
Some people speak OF the war as one FOR
the control OF chlna.( Is Japan ambitious
to control China?'
''Dlstlnctly and cmphattcnlly no" re-
piled Minister Taknhira. "Japan's atti-
tude upon that subject was fully defined
In the negotiations which preceded this
war In those negotiations she Insisted
upon mutual engagement between her-
self and Russia to respect the indcpen-
dence and territorial integrity OF the
Chinese and Korean empires. and also
upon n mutual engagement TO maintain
the principle OF equal opportunity FOR
the commerce and Industry OF all ma
lions In those countries.
The Yellow Peril.
''will there ever be an alliance OF
Japan and China against the world :"
mo replied the minister from JAPAN.
~ don't believe that any sane political
thinker who understands the actual con-
ditions OF the two nations can honestly
suggest such a possibility The sugges-
finn IL either founded on gross ignorance.
or II Is based upon malicious desire 20
injure Japan in the eyes OF the world.
An alliance between two powers must ne
cessarily be based upon mutual adEan-
strength by an alliance offensive ana de.
fepsive with China?#1t is an established
principle OF modern political science that
tho mower which ls to hold any weight
"a Inc world must be laDie not oni! 70
defend itself from outside nations. nuI
also to control and organize It's people
~ home It must keep order put down
rahsllions ana be able to call out Its
subjects at any time to Its support IN
oil matters OF national defense. Every
are knows that China Is not In this con-
djt,on: and while we OF Japar ADMIRE
the Chinese people for their scholarship,
commercial Integrity and othcr NE
qualities. we realize that they are nos :,
military power and We question
.ha,har thew will be 40 in the ages ia
come. This being the case, there is no
te.r ~ any such aggressive alliance as
yo, suggest. and hence 10 yellow peru,
=. such a possible alliance has beeh
called
An independents China.
.,7yb,t Japan would like to see az 70
chira /" continued the minister. .hn
sra should follow In her footsteps IN u,i-
uzinY such elements OF the western , r.t
) iization as are suited to her neeos. : ne
would lead 10 tho development OF ner
s-eat resources In Industry. commerce
and trade. and in the DEVELOPMENT Japan
only wishes to share equally with the
othar movers What We need most is
mat the other nations should take the
same position toward China that ths
United states has go ably maintaihea
Tor tho past few years That. more . .nan
anything else. would help 10 preherNa
peace in the far East
Then you think that China should
hold its present independent positioIl
upon the map Of the world?'
II do" replied the Japanese minister.
From our standpoint the preservation
of Chinese independence. or what mas
been we'll termed the administrative en-
tity' of the Chinese empire. rs most oe-
eirable. That is one of the objects for
which Japan lis contending. dlvideo
China means peril to japan, and SIN
cerely believe that 1t would be OF no
lasting advantage to any western ma
ton. On the other hand. an indepenuel'l
China with her territorial INTEGRITY uil-
impaired, must. as her enormous rs
sources are more, and more developed.
prove fruitful field to tho commerce
and Industry Of all nations
The Position of Korea.
''How about Korea:" asked.
speaking generally replied the Jap
anese minister, II may say that we hope
tine same good for Korea, with the IN
PRODUCTION OF western methods ana CIVIL
lizing influences and the peacelui De
velopment of Its resources. AZ the same
time the world recognizes the lact lnat
lne near neighDOrhoou OF 1>o|Sa " ""l'''
ond the stragetic Importance or Korean
territory so far-as regards the malnte-
nance OF the security Of the japanese en-
pire, naturally give Japan what was
called in the ante-bellum negotiations a
'rreponderating interest in Korea. IN
( saying this do not mean that japan mas
any designs upon the independence anu
territorial integrity OF Korea. nor any
purpose OF excluding from Korea the IN
dustries or commerce OF other nations
nor hampering foreign enterprise IN any
way. | mean that Japan cannot, with
due regard to her own safety, permit
any other nation to absorb Korea, or 10
use Korea as advantage point from
which to attack the Japanese empire,
but even II Japan does not nomlhaly
own Korea, Mr., Takahira, Will she MOI
eventually control 1t by her predomlnance
of trade and her ownership of the rail-.
roads, much as England controls Esypt!"
II think not" replied the japanese mini,
lister. Japan has not sought exclusive
privileges of any kind whatever IN no
rea. She does not seek the exclusive own