The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-12-21
TAFT REACHES
HOME AT LAST
BRINGS RENEWED ASSURANCE
or THE FRIENDLINEss or
JAPAN.
NO TALK OF WAR THERE
Says Main Object Of Trip Was 10
Make Report on Conditions In
PhIlippines--Busy Days
Ahead.

NtW IuEh, DEG. oU.--CeCTfLdTy all
ireturned today from his trip around
the world. bringing renewed assur-
ance of Japan's friendliness toward
the United States, but declining 70
say anything with respect to the polit.
| ical situation in this country. He said
that he had been too long out CT In
innate touch with political affairs at
home to discuss them In any way.
| Speaking of Japan the secretary said:
1T is the height of fooliShness to
talk OF possible war with Japan. Japan
does not desire war with MS and we
certainly do not desire 1t with Japan.
III there was any war spirit anywhere
In Japan, failed to find the slightes.
note of it. Everywhere there was
talk of continued peace. speak very
confidently about this. Our trade re-
lations with Japan are extensive and
constantly growing. Japan's exports
amount annually to about $160,000000
of which we take about one-third
This sort of trade is a great pacifica
tor"
Japan Not Alarmed.
What about the the Pacific ffeet?"
''The sailing must have been a
magnificent sight, We have fine ships
and fine personnel and as long as
the Pacific Ocean belongs to us as
much as anybody else, see no reason
why we should not send our ships
there on a practice cruise. The Jap
anese are too intelligent and high
minded to attribute any false motive
to the movement.
Object of His Trip.
my trip had as its only definite
object, report on conditions In the
Philippines. My visit to Japan was
only Incidental. Travelling by com
mercial steamer we had to stop there
and it was only courtesy for me to
pay my respects to the Emperor. Tho
trip through Russia was made partly
to save time and partly because ! had
crossed the Pacific seevral times and
was rather anxious to see the new
territory My visit was in no sense
official. So many courtesies were
shown me from the moment put foot
On Russian soil that | could not have |
even had desire to do So
The invitation to an audience of the |
Russian emperor. | was much inn |
pressed by the emperor's personality |
and his entire familiarity with cur
'ent affairs, especially American poll
les.
Conditions in Philippines.
Il was much pleased with the con
Iitions in the Philippines. They were
much better than had hoped for. Ini-
ial proceedings of the first Philippine
assembly, and its tendency to conser-
'atism, despite the supposed radical
majority, was mast gratifying
Secretary Taft left for Washington
N an early afternoon train. saying
hat accumulated matters in the war |!
department. would keep his nose to
he official grindstone for some time
o come, and that the preparation oi
lis special report on the Philippines. Il
Which would be in book form. would
lso require much of his time in the
ear future. |,
Taft met newspaper men by ap- |
'ointment at his residence tonight ID
fter which he called at 10 O'Clock at
he White House to discuss with the
resident his trip abroad. Is
On the subject of the Philippines.
he secretary said to the newspaper I
zen that II would not be advisable 10
rant the Filipinos independence for
I least generation yet. Ii
Il have been very much encour-
ged.' said the secretary. "as 10 what
'e are accomplishing in the way Of !,
raining the Filipinos. think that I
Dday there is more cooperation be-
ween the American government and
he Filipinos in working for the bene- ID
Z of the Islands In the matter Of edu-
alton and business prosperity than
COR hoforo /.