The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-18
AOKI SPEAKS FOR PEACE.
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO THE
.ASIATIC ASSOCIATION.


Baron Aoki, the first Ambassador &C.
credited by tho Emperor Of Japan to the
United States, made his first public speech
in this country last night when. ss a guest
of the American Asiatic Association at it's
ninth annual dinner in Delmonico's, he
responded to the toast The Emperor of
Japan"
The Ambassador came up from Washing
ton, accompanied by the Navaland Military
Attaches Of the Japanese Legation. Com
mander Takeuchi and Major Tanaka. 10
face for the first time since his arrival in
this country last March the ordeal Of a
formal banquet.
The banqueting room was decorated
with the intertwined flags of America,
Japan and China. As a special compliment
20 the guest of honor a feet Of candied
battleships bearing the sun flag of Japan
saile1 across the guest table in front Of
the Ambassadors plate. There we're cheers
for America and for Japan, and when the
baron was announced the band in the
gallery struggled manfully with the minor
chords of the -kimigayo," Japan's ma
tional anthem.
China was represented by X. F. Shah.
Chinese Consul-General in New York. Sir
Percy Sanderson, Consul-G Genera of Great
Britain in this city, sat at the left of Presi-
dent James r. Morse of the association as
one of the guests of the occasion. John
Eoord, secretary of the American Asiatic
Association; Harold NJ. Sewall. former
Consu-General of the United States in
Japan, and T. Miyaoka. japanese Consul
General in New York. were among those
who sat with the Ambassa dor at the guests
table.
When President Morse introduced the
new Japanese Ambassador, Baron Aoki
rose with his manuscript in his hand and
stood half bowling while the band and
the diners Rravely discoursed the com-
plimentarv reference to his being a good
fellow. Then he began TO read, haltingly
and with manv pauses and slurred accents. |
Baron Aoki Goes not speak English as
we'll "a he does German. and last night it
was apparent that his maiden speech in
America was a trial to him,
Il am aware that the sense OF this assoc
citation in regard to the relations between
Japan and the United States ia based on
the recognition of the broad principle that
the interests Of the United States and OF
the empire OF Japan are identical" said
the Ambassador. Indeed it would be
difficult to find a parallel case in the history
of mankind in which better reasons existed
for the maintenance of the most amiclble
relations between any two nations, viewed
either from an historical, a commercial
or a moral point of view.
Historically speaking, il was the United
States that raped at the door of seclusiOn
within which Japan in her ancient isolation
cherished her own science, literature and
art, which we're the products Of a civiliIa-
ton entirely distinct in type from that Of
yours. Since then not a year has passed
but what has witnessed some ncidents
that have vividIy recalled to the minds Of
the two peoples the xistence of weighty
reasons which formed the basis of their
mutual sentiment of respect. love and adj
miration."
The Baron then said that this close alliance
of interest between the two countries had
never showed itself in a manner more graft
flying to the japanese people than in the
Russo-J japanese War, from which it has
pleased Providence to see us emerge as
a Power Of some consequence" as Baron
Aoki interJected in comment.
1T was a struggle in W hich our very exist
snce was a stake continued the Baron.
Japan was fighting the battle Of your
civilization and Of your trade, and therefore
she was entitled to the full measure of your
moral support. The support actually re-
ceived at the hands Of the American people
was wider in its scope than mere moral
support, and embraced every kind OF as
sistance which could consistently be given
TO a belligerent by a nation that had de-
clared its neutrality.
The people Of Japan are fully alive
20 the magnitude Of the everlaSting service
which was thus rendered by the people OF
this country to the cause of Japan, and
tuc CtIhD " tuab bupPoIt 81 hDcTdUY 1
given will continue to be a. living monu-
ment of the cordial friendship which c.
ments the two nations
Baron Aoki carefully avoided any ref
erence to the recent diplomatic situation
raised by the school question In San Fran
cisco, contenting himself with refuting by
inference all rumors of present or future
unpleasantness possible between the two
nations.
The plain facts should not be lost sight
OF, said he, in touching upon the DOGGY OF a
future struggle for the mastery OF the
Pacific, that the Pacific Ocean Ii a vast
eXpanse OF water, that the terri cries of
Japan and Of the United States nowhere
touch each other, and that Eastern Asia,
with more than 500, 900 900 souls, is large
enough to give room for the Of
all nations.
The dream Of the pessimist who sees the
phantom of the struggle for supremacy be-
tween Japan and the United States for the
control OF the Pacific is TOO ridiculous to be
made the subject Of serious comment.
The Government Of Japan il as fully
and firmly pledged as the Government Of
the United States TO the principle of the
maintenance of the open door in the neutral
markets Of Asia. l am not unmindful of
the fact that in certain circles during the
course of the last summer some doubts were
entertained as TO the intentions Of Japan
regarding the maintenance of that principle
IN ManChuria, which was then still under
military occupation. Il
Such apprehension, no doubt, was largely
bhC " ne AildUlilJ " IL NultL % Oil 4
prehend in their proper dimensions the ma I
tlre Of the difficulties which our military
authorities had to contend with in with
drawing an army comprising more than
half a million fighting men. So long as the
country remained under military rule IL was
impossible to open it TO the free commerce !
OF the world. | trust, however, that the Sc ,
quence Of events which have since taken ,
place has dispelled all suspicion regarding .
the intention Of the Japanese Government :
10 maintain the principle OF equal oppOr- ,
tunity in Manchuria. !
1T does not require the trained eye Of an
astute business man to discover the obvious
truth that the interest OF Japan's com :
merce on the Asiatic continent cannot itself !
be better served than by the maintenance I
OF that principle 10 which she is committed
no less than the United States. You may !
therefore rest assured that there are the
best Of commercial reasons for the resolute
defence and maintenance by japan OF that
principle with which the name Of John Hay
Is so honorably connected
The Amba ssador brought his sDeech to