Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-20
BON VOYAGE
|.yAPAN'S WORD
TO BIG FLEET
NlPP0NESE LEADERS EXPRESS
NO APPREHENSION
MOVE is REPUBLICAN POLITICS,
SAYS FORMER PREMIER
I'VE VIII Heartily Welcome Admiral
Evans and the Ships" Is Attl-
tude Of vIscount Hayashi,
Foreign Minister
By Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
TOXIC. Dec. 19.--"Japan will heartily
welcome the American fleet of battle
ships to the Pacific and to the ports of
this country IL IL be decided to extend
the trip In this direction The fact that
the fleet is sailing toward the Pacific
CREATES no excitement here, and as / have
aaid before, Japan views In the friend
Hest manner any action America may
within the scope of its wisdom, see fit
to take in the disposition of its naval
force"
Former Minister viscount Hayashl so
voices the sentiment of the Japanese peo-
ple. The news of the actual sailing of
the fleet reached Japan only yesterday,
and this morning 1t filtered out through
the vernacular and foreign press, accom-
panied by description of the scenes at
the departure of the ships. A special dis
patch carried an interview with the Rus
sian Admiral Rojestvensky under New
York date, comparing the chances of a
Japanese fleet against the American This
interview caused some amusement in
naval and diplomatic circles generally in
view of RojestvenslSy' fate when he
reached Japan, but 1t was noticeable that
none of the naval officers would be led
into a discussion of the admirars views
for publication.
rThe Japanese people have absolute
confidence In the friendly attitude of the
statesmen and the great mass of the
American people. We hope that the fleet
may have successful and safe voyage,
and Americans everywhere may rest as
sured that should the fleet decide to visit
the far east at no place will it receive
heartier welcome than in Japan" con-
cluded Hayash
Tono lie Glad
Admiral Count Togo said: II am very
glad the fleet has started for the Pacific.
If 1t should ultimately touch on our
shores we will greet them as friends and
give them the warmest reception. We en-
tcrtain nothing but the kindliest feelings
toward American sailors"
The minister of the navy. Admiral
Saito, says: The American fleet will be
heartily Welcomed should it visit Japan.
know Admiral Evans well. He is de-
lightful gentleman and a. splendid sailor.
and I sincerely hope that he win bring
his ships on this side and give us
chance to show our appreciation of his
good qualities"
Prince Ito, resident general of Korea,
says: "Americans have always been a
helpful friend to Japan and the Japanese
arc stanch admirers of President Roose
Welt. We have never had any other idea
tnan tnat IL was quite WlInln lne IlSnL
of America to dispatch a fleet where it
was desired, and it will be especially well
coined should it come to Japan. l have
always maintained that talk of war be-
tween Japan and America is unspeakable,
unthinkable. and the attitude of the Jap
anese people toward the fleet will ulti-
mately prove the sincerity of the words
which have been consistently friendly"
"Move is Natural"
Privy Councillor Viscount Kaneko de-
clares: THE dispatch of the fleet l re-
gard only as the natural outcome in the
course of things, such as exist in the
United States. Early in 1892 when l saw
President Cleveland at Gray Gables. ven
tured to point out to him what is now
occurring / then said that the Atlantic
side Of the United States had realized
such conditions of development that left
little for further exploration. while the
Pacific was extending an immense field
for commercial interest, and that event
ually American energy must be directed
toward that goal.
Let me call your attention to the fact
that the Bulwer-Clayton treaty was
drawn simply in consideration of Amer
jean development on the Pacific side.
Commercial interest once developed, the
only natural consequence is that war
ships will follow the commercial carriers. |
Americans are already largely interested
on the Pacific, Why should that portion
of their domain not be protected? More
over. the center of diplomacy having.l
shifted to Asia, 1t is O. predominant inn
portance that the peace of the Pacific
should be well guarded and insured. AS
things now stand. such a guardian should
be the United States and Japan, and in
crease of armament in the Pacific can
only mean a considerable addition to the
insurance of trarqHillity--at least in this
portion Of the world. 1t is not too much
TO say that Japan and the United States
have Joint responsibility in maintain-
ing peace on the Pacific.
Evans a Friend
Il know Rear Admiral Evans person.
ally. When he was here I had the pleas
ure of inviting himself and his staff to a
hunting expedition We hope he Will ex-
tend his cruise TO these shores and give
us ar opportunity TO renew the acquain
tancev
Count okuma. the leader of the Pro-
gressive party, said:
IT sincerely hope the American fleet
will have a safe voyage. | will gladly
send 1t my greetings when it arrives on
the Pacific. The coming of an American
fleet viii tend to forward the civilization
OF the world and increase the friendi-
ness Of our two nations. The influence of
America and Japan in the far east would
be enormous and paramount. Surely this
voyage of the American fleet and the at
titude Of the japanese people now and In
event Rear Admiral Evans decides to
visit Japan will stop the ridiculous talk
Of war or unfriendliness upon the part OF
the Japanese people
The former premier, Marquis Kasura,
one Of the most prominent and active
politicians in Japan, who Yields immense
Influence in the present cabinet, said:
The dispatch OF the American fleet
gives mo no cause for surprise. Our
whole people feel the same way, that the
American fleet has been sent to the
Pacific where American interests demand
the presence of navy sufficiently ade-
quate for the protection of those inter-
ests. Its coming should cause Japan no
uneasiness. especially in the case OF the
United States, which is so friendly to
Japan.
Republican Tactics
Possibly the dispatch of the fleet is
intended as a move toward naval extern
sion, or 1t may have something to do
with international politics. certainly
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