Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-12-28
taft FINISHES Trip
AND HAS RESUMED DUTIES
AT WASHINGTON.
He Scouts Any Idea of War With
Japan--says They Are Too Intelli-
gent to Attribute Any False Motive
to Cruise of Atlantic Fleet to Pacific
Waters-Tells Of the Trip.

William II. Taft, secretary of war
has returned from his trip around the
world, bringing renewed assurance Of
Japans friendliness toward the United
States, but declining to say anything
with respect to the political situation
in this country He said he had beer
too long out of intimate touch with
present affairs at home to DISCUSS
them in any way. One Of Mr.. Tatt'E
interviewers had the temerity to ask:
We'll, Secretary, tell us who is YOU
choice for president"
Amid general laughter. in which he
heartily Joined. the secretary replied,
81 guess l will have to leave that tc
inference"
Looking exceedingly well. the secre
tary said he had taken daily flve-mile
walks on the decks of the President
Grant during the IS days trip from
Hamburg.
1T is the height of foolishness tc
talk of possible war with Japan" de
clared the secretary. Japan does not
desire war with us, and we certainly
do not desire war with Japan. If there
was any war spirit anywhere in Japan
/ failed to find the slightest note of It,
Everywhere there was talk of con
tinued peace. l speak very confidently
about this. Our trade relations with
Japan are extensive and constantly
growing. Japan's exports amount an
nually to about 100000 900, of which
we take about one-third. The exports
consist largely of mattings, laces, en-
broideries and other fancy work, in the
production of which many people are
interested. We, in turn, ship vast guam
titles of -four, oil and such commodi-
ties to Japan. This sort of trade is a
great pacifcator"
What about the Pacific neet?'
The sailing must have been a mag
nifcent sight We have fine ships and
a fine personnel, and as long as the
Pacific ocean belongs TO us as much
as to anybody else 7 see no reason why
we should not send our ships there on
a practice cruise. The Japanese are
too intelligent and high-minded to at
tribute any false motive to the move
ment.
The "trip through Russia was made
partly to save time and partly because
l had crossed the Pacific six times and
was rather anxious to see the terri
tory. My visit was in no sense official.
So many courtesies were shown me
from the moment l put foot on Rus
sian soil that / could not have re-
fused, even had | desired to do so, the
invitation to an audience of the en-
peror. was much impressed by the
emperor's personality, and his entire
familiarity with current affairs, es-
pecially American politics.
AT Moscow l had the rather novel
experience of dining one day with an
official who next day was made the
target of a bomb. This was Governor
General Guerschelmann. Inc ride
through Siberia was most enlightening
and gave one a different idea of that
country from what It is generally CON
ceived to be. Especially is this true
as to agriculture, minerals and popu-
lation. Western Siberia will probably
the same process of develop.
ment as our middle west, and l believe
in time it will be the center of popu-
fation of the>Russian empire.
Il was much pleased with conditions
in the Philippines. They were much
better than I had hoped for, The mi,
tial proceedings Of the first Philippine
assembly and its tendency to conserva-
tism, despite the supposed radical ma
iority, were most gratifying.
I'm China the American residents
were anxious for reinsurance as to
intention toward maintain
ing the open door policy. At the ban
luet in Shanghai endeavered to give
this assurance"