The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-29
RECOGNITION OF Seattle
As GATEWAY To 0RIFN1

mura's landing at Seattle on bin ne.o.
mission from Japan is a tacit recoo,;
tion of this port as the Pacific Co...
gateway to the Orient. Such is III.
Interpretation placed upon his visit b,
G. T. Takahashi, president of the ian.
anese Association. In letter written
to- Mayor R. A. Ballinger. Mr.. Taxi.
hashi expresses the qualification Of n.
japanese at the courtesies EXTENDED n
Baron Komura and comments upen tbs
deep significance Of his visit to Seattle
Baromn Komura, minister Of foreigp
affairs, is one of the most prominent
Of Oriental statesmen, and the part hs
will play in the peace negotiations will
make him, next to the emperor him.
self, the foremost man in japan. In
view Of that fact, the coming Of the
diplomatic party to this city presents
a most unusual and highly important
aspect.
The peace ambassadors are meeting
in the United States at the invitation
Of President Roosevelt. The japanese
party chose to come to this country on
the highly important mission through
Seattle. It is from these facts that
M. Takahashi and the japanese resi-.
denss read the recognition Of Seattle as
the gateway to the Orient.
The letter addressed to Mayor Bal.
inger follows:
Letter to Mayor.
"On behalf of the japanese Associa.
ton, as we'll also the japanese resi-
dents of this city, desire to conveyto
you, and through you to the peopled
Seattle our profound appreciation Of
the oourtesies extended to our distin'
guished oountryman, Baron Komurs,
peace commissioner from japan, who
is to 80 soon engage in the dicfdult task
Of bringing to q peaceful cone euaon
probably the greatest and most fG
reaching war the world has ever
known. It is no slight gratifcsuon
on the part Of those of Us who are max,
ing Seattle our home, and in our hum
BILE way endeavoring to build up toe
interests of our adopted city, that snn
port should be the landing place TOT
this distinguished diplomat. Seattle
can surley lay undisputed claim to Oe.
ing the Pacific Coast doorway to sn0
Orient, and as we face out from nsI.
we are stirred with a deep feeling u
interest and hope that the larger Vls,Uu
Of governmental affairs which 'u''
country is enjoying, and the oomms,
cial activity which is already ne' m',
soon likewise be realized in our owl W.
native land, to the end that there sn'''
be established throughout the soVoiD
ments Of the world the highest COW. W.
tions of prosperity and happiness, s s;s
that the time may come when al an
putes between nations may DO se' .ss
by peaceful means, thereby saVipe ~ IN
SORROW which must always remAm
the homes by tho destructive inns ss,,ov
Of war, and the disasters Whlcn '0'''
in the commercial world.
Eve believe that the courtes'0s .as,.
tended by the people of Seattle l: :1sut
deeply the sentiment Of the Ple'. n
OF the United States, in an endea'U~, hs
bring about condition OF peace. h.s
reception which Baron komuls %. an
received when first stepping lO1 .hsss
the shores Of this country, wneio ~;ll.
negotiations are to be earned on' ..oru.
we are, sure, add much to the ~ hare
pliahment Of the ends which 10 -
to bring about" 49, :. tho
The recognition Of Seattle Is AZ. vi
Oriental gateway 10 all the %O' Frsp.
dent when it II known that san s,sy
cisco steamship lines put 1or'n rt, %
effort TO induce the japanese - that
enter the United States Dy WY
S1nrk