Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-12

TO be considered in the light Of our
present day diplomacy. he is a failure
as a diplomat He is quoted as fol-
lows:
Il wish 20 express my heartfelt
thanks for this magnificent evidence
OF good viii. Since my visit in 1905
Japan has been through a titanic
struggle. The Americans are proud
that Mr.. Roosevelt, with the prestige
OF the American Presidency. hasten
ed a peace that is honorable to both
Japan and Russia.
AS the terms of that peace agree
ment were distasteful TO a large pro-
portion of the japanese people and
il is generally conceded that Russia
got the better of the bargain, all re-
ferences to il by Secretary Taft were
unfortunate 1t was for the Japan
ese to breach the subject rather than
the representative Of President ROose
welt. He said:
Japan has proved as great in
peace as in war. She has taken first
rank among the nations. Her growth
from a hermit nation in fifty years
is marvel TO the world The Ameri-
cans are proud of Japan She has
always had the cordial sympathy and
effective aid of the United States.
The name of Perry. Harris. Bingham
Grant, and Roosevelt are inseparable
from Japan's attainment OF her pos
iUOn as q world power
Tn above utterances were all right
but he Immediately neutralized the
effect of it by the following unfor-
.tunate utterances:
"Now for the moment there is
little cloud over our friendship of
hfty years. but the greatest earth
quake of the century could not shake
our amity But I do not intend TO
consider details. I cannot trespass
upon the jurisdiction of the Depart
mcnt OF State and discuss the events
I'm San Francisco, but ] can say that
there is nothing in them that is iu-
capable OF honorable and full adj
justment by ordinary diplomacy.
While stating that ne cannot tres
pass upon the Jurisdiction of the De-
partment of State. he proceeds to do
the very thing that he had previously
stated &c was improper for him to
do. He even goes SO far as to de-
fine some of the limits of diplomacy.
Here is what me said:
The word war is not allowable I'm
diplomatic correspondence. but those
who are not diplomats can talk war.
] do not hold that war ls entirely UNI
jusuhable when grievances cannot
otherwise be rcdressed. War is hell. /
and only great cause which cannot
be settled by diplomacy justifes IT,
Ass he is the Secretary of War, he
virtually states that he has charge
.ot che "hcll-part' 81 President Roose
.volts cabinet. lie Numbered further
when he said:
CA war between America and Ja-
pan would DE crime against civiliza-
tion. Neither people desire it, and
both Governments viii strain every
gain anything from war Japan is
looking for great commercial con-
quest Why wish FOR war. which
would STOP an she has undertaken TO
reluveuate her ancient noichbor. 60
whom she is sending the greatest
statesmen in the world2 7 ann con
hdont that Prince Ito and the japan
cse government in their Korean
policy are making for Justice and
civilization. Why stop or delay the
reform in Korea?
Why should the United States de-
sire war; TO change in one year to
military nation. 10 have its resources
wasted upon "a vast equipment. and
TO uselessly enter upon a warlile
career? During the last decade the
United States has made the greatest
material progress. To-day 81 is
struggling against the abuses arising
from this progress, and is seeking TO /
retain It's benefits for the people.
It is inconceivable that states
man OF Secretary Tafts calibre
should have used such language. (
He Processes to speak not only for,
his own country, but for Japan as
we'll He even meddled i'm the af-
fairs OF Korea and really condemned
the Japanese in their preparations
for war. He goes so far as to tell
outsiders about troubles at home.
Certainly Secretary Taft threw dis
erection to the winds and made him
self laughing stock" in every for
eign Office of the Old World.
He even told of our troubles in
the Philippines. Here is mis- Ian
guage:
The United States Is engaged in
establishing order and prosperity I'm
the Philippines and in educating the
Filipinos, in order that they may be
capable 81 self-goveTnment. The task
is difficult one. Some persons suc-
gest the sale OF the islands to Japan
some other nation. This is abb
surd. Japan does not want them, and
the United States could not sell them
without the grOssest violation of its