The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-12-27
SEC'Y TAFT
RETURNS
AFTER TRIP AROUND
THE WORLD.
SAYS POSSIBLE WAR WITH
JAPAN Is ALL FOOL
IsHNEss.


has returned from his trip around the
world, bringing renewed assurance OF
Japan's friendliness toward the United
States, but declining to say anything
with respect to the political situation
in this country. He said he had been
too long out of intimate touch with
present affairs at home to discuss
them in any way. One of Mr.. Taft's
interviewers had the temerity to ask:
well, Secretary, tell us who Is your
choice for president"
Amid general laughter, in which he
heartily joined, the secretary replied:
81 guess 1 will have to leave that to
inference"
Looking exceedingly well, the secre-
tary said he had taken daily fve-mile
walks on the decks of the President
Grant during the 10 days trip from
Hamburg.
"It is the height of foolishness to
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. speak very confidently
about this. Our trade relations with
japan are extensive and constantly
growing. Japan's exports amount an
nually to about $160,000,000, 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 g
: great pacificator."
what about the Pacific fleet?'
1.-The sailing must have been a mag
nificent sight. We have fine ships an(
, fine personnel, and as long as thu
Pacific ocean belongs to us as mucl
as to anybody else l see nc. reason VIII!
, we should not send our ships there OF
! practice cruise. The Japanese arr
, too intelligent and high-minded to at
t tribute any false motive to the move
ment
$ "The trip through Russia was mad
v partly to save time and partly becaus
/ had crossed the Pacific six times an
was rather anxious to see the terri
e tory. My visit was in no sense officia
f So many courtesies were shown m
q from the moment l put foot on Ru:
r sian soil that I could not have n
:, fused, even had kdesired to do so, tn
7. invitation to an audience of the en-
S peror. l was much impressed by tn
e emperors personality, and his entir
e familiarity with current affairs, Ell
v pecially American politics.
n AT Moscow had the rather move
experience Of dining one day with a
official who next day was made tn
target of a bomb. This was Governc
General Guerschelmann. Inc rid
through Siberia was most enlightenin
and gave one a different idea of thu
country from what'it is generally col
le ceived to be. Especially is this tru
1T as to agriculture, minerals and pop
+ lation. Western Siberia will probabl
a. undergo the same process of develo
.. ment as our middle west, and beliey
N in time it will be the center of pop
a lation of the Russian empire.
O. II was much pleased with condition
Id in the Philippines. They were muc
S. better than had hoped for. The il
n tial proceedings of the first PhilippiI
assembly and it's tendency to conserv
n tism, despite the supposed radical m
10 jority, were most gratifying.
n I'm China the American residen
w were anxious for reinsurance as
~ Americas intention toward maintai
ing the open door policy. At the ba
quet in Shanghai endeavered to gi'
this assurance"