The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-12-28
TAFT HOME AGAIN
SECRETARY OF WAR COMPLETES
HIS TRIP AROUND THE
WORLD.
Announces That He is Pleased With
Conditions In the Far East, and
Declares He Found No Trace Of
War Sentiment in Japan Siberia
a Surprise.

War Sentiment in Japan Siberia
Surprise.
New York, Dec. 21.-William III.
Taft, secretary of war, returned today
from his trip around the world, bring
ing renewed assurance of Japan's
friendliness toward the United States,
but declining to say anything with re-
spect to the political situation in this
country. He said that he had been
too long out of intimate touch with
political 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:
Il guess I will have to leave that
to inference"
Mr.. Taft left for Washington on an
early afternoon train, saying that ac-
cumulated matters in the war depart
ment would keep his nose to the Of
fetal grindstone for some time to
come and that preparation of his spe-
cial report on the Philippines which
would be in book form, would also re-
quire much of his time in the near
future.
Looking exceedingly well, the secre-
tary said he had taken daily five-mile
walks on the decks of the President
Grant during the thirteen days trip
from Hamburg.
War Impossible.
1T 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 GER
tainly 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 con-
fidently about this. Our trade rela-
tons with Japan are extensive and
constantly growing. Japan's exports
amount annually to about $3.50, 1000, 900,
of which we take about one-third. The
exports consist largely of mattings,
lace goods, embroideries and other
many people are interested. We, in
turn, ship vast quantities of flour, oil,
and such commodities to Japan. This
sort of trade is great pacificator.
What about the Pacific fleet?"
"The sailing must have been mag
and fine personnel, and as long as
the Pacific ocean belongs to us as
much as to anybody else, see no rea-
son why we should not send our ships
there on practice cruise. The jap
anese are too intelligent and high
minded to attribute any false motive
to the movement.
Object of Trip.
my trip had as its definite object
a report on conditions in the Phil
ippines. My visit to Japan was only
incidental. Travelling by commercial
steamer we had to stop there, and it
was only courtesy for me to pay my
respects to the emperor. The trip
through Russia was made partly to
save time and partly because / had
crossed the Pacific six times and was
rather anxious to, see the 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 refused, even
had desired to do SO, the invitation
to an audience of the Russian en-
peror. I was much impressed by.
the emperor's personality and his en-
tire familiarity with current affairs,
especially American politics.
"At Moscow / had the rather novel
experience of dining one day with
an official who next day was made
the target of a bomb. This was Gov.
Gen. Guerschelmann.
Siberia Surprise.
"The ride through Siberia was most
enlightening and gave one very
different idea of that country from
what it is generally conceived to be.
Especially is this true as to agricul-
ture, minerals, and population. West
ern Siberia will probably undergo the
same process Of development as our
Middle West, and believe that in
time it will be the center of popula-
ton of the Russian empire.
Il was much pleased with condi-
tons in the Philippines. They were
much better than had hoped for.
The initial proceedings Of the first
Philippine assembly and its tendency
to conservatism, despite the supposed
radical majority. was most gratifying.
In China, the American residents
were anxious for reinsurance as to
Americas intentions toward maintain
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