New-York tribune., 1905-08-03
COUNT KATSURA'S POLICY
To DeUeLop East an Accord 1oith
Britain and America-A Warning.

Significant statements are made by Count
katsura, the japanese Premier, in an interview
given to correspondent OF "Leslies Weekly
and printed in the issue of that publication for
August 3. The Premier expressed his thanks
to the American press and public for the uni
form and unfailing fair -mindedness displayed
by them throughout this deplorable war. The
friendship OF America is inestmably appreci-
ated by Japan. and 1t would be difficult to
measure the benefits we have derived from It."
He continued:
Japan has no ambition save to preserve her
national independence and integrity. We do
not seek territorial aggrandizement nor dicta-
torial supremacy Resenting this, as we do,
in other nations, we are hardly likely to allow
any temptation to betray into such incon-
sistency as you seem to think possible. When
we were forced, at the beginning of last year.
to take UP arms against Russia, we did 1t most
reluctantly, and for no reason in the world but
for the preservation of our national safety. That
we should win, sooner or later, we did not doubt,
because we knew we must: but such complete
victory we have enjoyed was not within the
expectations of the most sanguine man IN the
empire. We oYerestimated the strength of Rus
sia as much as Russia underestimated our
strength, and therein, think, lies one or the
secrets OF our great success. However, our vic
tory does not alter the issue over which host1ll-
ties were begun, and l think may safely as
sert that Japan's ambition is quite within Its
original bounds-only, of course, the great IN
debtedness must be paid.
East will be in exact accord with that or Eng
land and the United States We shall try no
original experiments which do not meet with the
approval of those countries. We intend Tor our
own good and the good of the world to heartily
cooperate with all nations in forcing on Sorea
and China the same benefits of modern deVel-
opment that have been in the past forced on
us. We intend to begin campaign OF educa-
tion in those countries such as we ourselves
have experienced TO everlasting betterment,
and the result hope to attain VIII De lne
absolute abandonment in the Far East OF all
the old ideas OF national eXcluslVeness ana lne
development of Asiatic commercial interests
that will benefit us all. China and COrea have
been asleep for very long time. and II Will ne
much more difficult to arouse them TO run
appreciation of their own possibilities than II
was 10 arouse But just as we had to yield
TO the stress Of adVancement to the necessities
of the time. SO must they. The introduction of
an The blessings of modern civilization into the
east Asiatic Countries-that is our Far-Eastern
policy and behind il there is no more selfish
motive than simple desire for our own COM
nerciaI and eduCa tiOnal hetterment. emma ana
Corea are both atrociousiy misgoVerned. They
are i'm the hands of lot of corrupt officials
whose ignorance and narrow -mindedness are a
constant menace to political tranquility in the
Far East These conditions we Will endeaVor
TO correct at the earliest possible date-by per-
suasjon and education, if possible; by force, II
necessary: and in this, as in all things, we eX-
pect to act in exact concurrence with the IDEAS
and desires of England and the United states
Count Katsura added impressively:
But YOU may quote me as saying that we, as
nation are ready now, and will continue to
he ready to take up arms against any other ma
tion on the earth that attemHs to trespass
within what we consider the boundaries OF our
national safety.