Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-02
TAFT ASSURES JAPAN U. 8. Is
FRIENDL'..
SECRETARY MAKES STIRRING
TALK FOR PEACE
EaooseyeIt's Missionary to Toxic at
Banquet Says Neither Nation
Has Anything to Gain
by Fighting
BY Associated Press.

aroused the widest enthusiasm when In
the course Of his speech at the banquet
given In his honor by the municipality OF
Toxic and chamber of commerce last
night he declared that war between the
United States and japan would be a
"crime against modern civilization and as
wicked as 1t would be insane" adding
that neither people desired 1t and that
both governments would DO their utmost
to guard against such an awful catas-
trophe.
The secretary spoke with intense earn
estness, after careful deliberation and
preparation.
The banquet took place in the assembly
room of the Imperial hotel, Viscount
Shimibusawa presiding, and was attend
ed by prominent officials and many of
the leading business men of Toxic. Mr.
Taft sat on the right of Viscount Shimi-
busawa and Mr.. O'Brien, the new Ameri-
can ambassador to Japan, was seated on
his left The decorations of the hall were
magnificent and a good band furnished
the music.
Among those present were many wo-
men, including Americans. Viscount
Shimibusawa in welcoming Mr.. Taft paid
a glowing tribute to the greatness Of the
nation which the secretary represented,
the friendliness which the United States
had always displayed for japan and the
influence which America exerted through
out the world.
No UnfriendIiness
In replying Mr.. Taft spoke with deep
feeling and positiveness. He asserted
that the talk ofunfriendliness between
the United States and Japan was due en-
tirely to the commercialism of the news
papers Of America.
The secretry declined to discuss the i'm
migration question, saying that he would
not trespass upon the field of state de-
partment.
Continuing Mr.. Taft said: Americans
will always be proud of the part Presi-
dent Roosevelt was able to play in has
tening the end of the war, bringing about
peace under circumstances honorable to
both Japan and Russia. Japan having
proved her greatness in war, has taken
a stand in the first rank of the. family of
nations. You have concluded treaties
with your former antagonists and wounds
caused by the war are healed.
THE growth of Japan from hermit
nation to her present position in the last
fifty years Isl a marvel to the world.
Americans are proud to record the fact
that Japan has always had the cordial
sympathy and at times the effective aid
of the United States. For a moment-for
a moment only-a little cloud came over
tue SUNSHINE Ol the ldSt iTleHusIIp VI
fifty years. Only the greatest earth
quake in centuries could cause even the
slightest tremor between such friends.
"I do not intend to consider the de-
tails of the events at San Francisco; /
cannot trespass upon the jurisdiction of
the department of state. 1t Is for my col
league, Mr.. Root, or my friend, Mr..
O'Brien to discuss this matter.
Can Be. Settled HonorabIy
"I say that there is nothing in those
events that cannot be honoraby and fully
arranged by ordinary diplomatic methods
between the two governments, conducted
as they both are, by statesmen Of horror.
sanity and justice. War between Japan
and the United States would be a crime
against modern civilization. 1t would be
insane. Neither the people of Japan nor
the people of the United States desire
war The governments of the two coun-
tries would strain every point to avoid
such an awful catastrophe. Neither
would gain anything
Japan has undertaken with the legiti-
mate interests of so close neighbor to
reform and rejuvenate the kingdom that
is governed or misgoverned by fifteenth
century methods. His majesty the en-
peror has shown his appreciation of the
difficult task by sending to Korea Jap
ans greatest statesman. No matter what
reports may be, no matter what criticism
may be uttered, the world will have conf
dencekfhat Prince Ito and the Japanese
government are pursuing policy in Ko-
rea which will make for justice, civiliza-
tion and the welfare of a backward
people.
Neither DESTROYS OF War
''Why should Japan wish for war? 1t
must stop or seriously delay the execution
~ ,la fnr fha reform Of Korea
''Why should the United States wish for
war? 1t would change her in a year or
more into a military nation. Her great
resources would be wasted in vast
equipment which would serve no good pur-
pose, but would tempt the nation into
warlike policies. Why should she wish
for war, in which all the evils OF society
flourish and all vultures fatten?
.'She is engaged in establishing gov
ernnent of law and order in the Philip
pines. fitting those peole by general edu-
cation to govern themselves 1t has been
suggested that we might relieve our
selves of this burden by the sale of the
islands to Japan or some other country.
The suggestion is absurd. Japan does
not wish for the Philippines. She has
problems of similar nature nearer home.
More than this, the United states couid
not sell the islands to another power
without the grossest violation of it's OBJ
legations to the Philippine people
'.Under these circumstances then could
there be anything more wicked. more IN
famous, than the suggestion OF war be-
tween two nations who have enjoyed
time-honored friendship and who have
nothing to fight forY
Some one asks why such reports and
rup1ors of war? Cupidity of certain menu
bers of the modern press by sensational
dispatches to give rise to unfounded re-
ports has grown with Improvement of
Communication between distant parts of
the world. The desire to sell papers, the
desire for political reasons to embarrass
the existing government or others and
even less iustifiable motives have led to
Measurements, misconstructions and un-
founded guesses, all worked into terrifying
headlines which have no foundatlon
whatever.
Irresponsbes to Blame
I'm each country doubtless there are
irresponsible persons that war would
or might make prominent, VINO try 70
erfx,a ca.foa-raeo N e11ch diftuSiOnS, but