The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-21
Renewed Assurance of Japans FriendIiness to United States
DECLINES ID TALK POLITICS
Will Be Busy for Some Time at War Department-Ridicu Idea of War With Japan-Dis-
 cusses Philippines.

New York, December 20.-Wilham H.
 Taft, Secretary of War, returned today
 from his trip around the world. bringing
 renewed assurance of Japan's friendi-
 ness toward the United States, but de-
 clning to say anything with respect to
 the political situation in this country.
 He said he had been too long out of
 intimate touch with political affairs at
 home to discuss them in any way. One
 of MT. Taft's interviewers had the te-
 merity to ask: Well, MT. Secretary, tell
 us who is your choice for Presdent?"
 Amid general laughter, in which he heart
 fly joined the Secretary replied: q
 guess I will have to leave that to in-
 ference"
 MT. Taft left for Washington on an
 early afternoon train, saying that accu-
 mulated matters in the war department
 would keep his nose to the official grind
 stone for some time to come, and that
 the preparation of his special report on
 the Philippines, which would be in book
 form, would also require much of his
 time in the near future.
 During his two hours stay in New York MT. Taft was aboard the army tug Joseph E. Johnston, which ahad taken him from the liner, President Grant, at quar- antine. Newspaper men who had gone down the bay to meet the returning sec retary reached the steamers side after he had been transferred and then fol- lowed lively chase in an endeavor to overhaul the army boat with the crested and four-starred flag of the Secretary or
 War flying at the masthead The John- ston had been placed at the disposal of Henry W. Taft, the secretary's brother.
 General Frederick D. Grant commando t-rg -t'fe department of the east. also went down on the Johnston to pay his re-
 spects.
 Lost In Port.
 First the secretary was carrie, to Jer- sey City to find about transportation, then it sf nnounced that he would re-
 live the sspaper men at West Twen-
 ty-third slleet, New York, at a given hour. The small army of reporters gath cred at the pier found they were again
 few minutes late. Away went the re-
 porters again and the secretary finally was overhauled just as he was about to take the train for Washington. He
 was most cordial in manner and laugh ingly remarked that he was sorry to have
 been '1ost' so long in the harbor. and that he had caused so much trouble. "It Is the height of foolshness to talk of possible war with Japan,' declared the
 
 with us and we certainly do not desire war with Japan. If there was any war spirit anywhere in Japan, I failed to find the slightest note of it. Everywhere there was talk of continued peace. I speak very confidently about this. Our trade relations with Japan are extensive and constantly growing. Japans exports amount annually to be about s16o,oOo,0Oo of which we take about one-third. What about the Pacific fleet? The sail- ing 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 to anybody else. see no reason why we should not send our ships there on practice cruise. The Japanese are too intelligent and high minded to attribute any false motive to the movement. Object of the Trip.
 ''My trip had as its only definite object a report on conditions in the Philippines. My visit to Japan was only incidental. Travelling by commercial steamer, we had
 to stop there, and 1t was only courtesy for me to pay my respects to the Eni- peror. The trip through Russia was made partly to save time and partly because l had crossed the Pacific three times and was rather anxious to see the new terri tory. My visit was in no sense official. So many courtesies were shown me from the moment I put foot on Russian soil that could not have refused, even had desired to do so, the invitation to an aud fence of the Russian Emperor. I was much impressed by the Emperor's per
 sonality and his entire familiarity with current affairs, especially American poli- tics
 q was much pleased with conditions i'll the Philippines. They were much bet ter than Ihad hoped for The initial pro- ceedings of the first Philippine assembly. and It's tendency to conservatism, despite the supposed radical majority, was most gratifying.
 Tn China the American residents were anxious for reinsurance as to Americas intention toward maintaining the open door policy. At the banquet in Shanghai I endeavored to give this assurance" Secretary Taft presided at the ships concert on Monday evening last, and was warmly toasted at the captains dinner the night before reaching port. One of Secretary Taft's interviewers asked Who is your choice for Presi- dent Mir Secretary"
 Well" came the laughing reply, "I think I will have to leave that to in- ference"
 The secretary was looking remarkably well and said his daily five mile walks on the decks of the steamer were in large part responsible for this. Taft In Washington. Washington, December 20.-Secretary of War William H. Taft, accompanied by his son. Charles Taft, arrived in Wash | ington over the Pennsylvania railroad | this evening at 6:25 o'clock. At the station to meet the secretary were a number of officials of the war l and other departments. who gave him 1 a hearty welcome. Secretary Taft in re- ply expressed his great pleasure in reach | ing home again.
 l The secretary looked the picture of l health and spirits. MT. Taft was con- | siderably tanned from his long ocean | voyage. Mrs. Taft and Miss Helen Taft | remained in New York. where they will ] be the guests of the secretary's brother,
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