Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-12-20
U. S. AND Japan.
Vlscount 0akl Talks Of Relations Be-
tween the Two Countries.


New York, Dec. II. After viewing
the amicable relations, long existing be-
tween the United States and Japan,
Viscount Aoki, the Japanese Ambassa-
dor, tonight declared that his people
were fully alive to the magnitude OF
Japan's obligation to this country, the
memory of which would be a living
monument of the cordial friendship that
cements the two nations. Eastern Asia
he said, was large enough for the COM
merce Of all nations and the dream OF
the pessimist who saw the phantom OF
a struggle between the United States
and Japan for the supremacy of the
Pacafic was too ridiculous to be made
the subject of serious thought.
Ambassador Aoki was the guest OF
honor at the dinner of the American
Asiatic Association held at the Waldorf
Astoria. He said:
'Tt would be difficult to find a par
allel case in the history of mankind in
which better reasons existed for the
maintenance of most amicable relations
between any two nations, whether view
ed from historical, commercial or moral
points of view.
Historically speaking, it was the
United States that raped at the door
of seclusion while Japan in her ancient
isolation cherished her own science,
literature and art, which were the pro-
ducts of a civilization entirely distinct
in type from that of yours. 1t was the
United States that half century ago
offered to Japan the right hand of fel-
lowship and introduced her into the in
tercourse Of nations. Since then not a
year has passed but that has witnessed
some incidents that have WILDLY recall
ed to the minds of the two peoples the
existence of weighty reasons which
formed the basis of their mutual senti-
ment of respect, love and admiration.
That fact naturally was never more
eloquently brought home to US than in
that hour of gigantic struggle from
which it has pleased Providence to see
us emerge power Of some consequence.
1t was a struggle in which our very ex-
istence was at stake.
Turning to the commercial aspect OF
the question, the plain facts should not
be lost sight of that,the Pacific ocean is
a vast expanse of water; that the terri
tories of Japan and of the United States
nowhere touch each other, and that east
ern Asia with more than 500, 900, 600 OF
souls is large enough to give room for
the commerce of all nations including
that of Japan and Of the United States.
"Mr. President, you have fittingly al
luded to the fact that the government
of Japan is as fully and firmly pledged
as the government of the United States
to the maintenance Of the principles of
the open door in the natural markets
of Asia. 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.
trust, however, that the sequence of
events since has dispelled all suspicion
regarding the intention of the Japanese
government to maintain the principle OF
equal opportunity in Manchuri. You
may, therefore, rest assured that there
is the best of commercial reasons fol
the resolute defense and maintenance
by Japan of that principle with which
the name of John Hay Is so honorably
connected.
Turning to the moral reasons which
should draw the two nations closer ant
closer together, it should be observed
that, viii the political institutions Of
the two countries widely differ in form
yet that high sense of liberty, equality
and justice, which forms the ideal OF tht
American national life Is also the guild
ing principle of Japan's political life
The love of fai- play which is often re
ferred to as a peculiarly Anglo-Saxor
characteristic, am proud to say, il
also found in the blood of the japanese
people. 1t is, therefore, safe to sa!
that so long as the moral character o
the two peoples does not change, th'
commercial activities Of the two peopl
will be characterized by that sense o
fairness which is, after all, the bes
guarantee Of peace in the intercours
of nations no less than in the inter
course of individuals"