The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-10-02
ROYAL RECEPTION
TO TAFT BY
M|KAD0
Secretary Of War Received
With Honors Due a King.
WAR IS WICKED AND INSANE
Roosevelt and the Emperor Cheered
eyTokyo eanqueters a. Token
OF Amlty.

Taft was received In audience by the
emperor Of Japan with all the honor
and ceremony usually bestowed Oh the
ruler Of an empire. The emperor sent
message Of good will to America and
Its president, showing, as his majesty
said. to the world Japan's friendly
feeling toward the United States.
Mr.. Taft said 1t gave him great plea
sure to bring message Of good will
from President Roosevelt. The secre-
tary said he felt that the fact that the
japanese emperor had for the second
time h0nored him with an Invitation
to an audience was de to his majes-
TVS well known frieL dship for Amer
lea.
Secretary Taft aroused the widest
enthusiasm and loud cheers when dur
Ing his speech at the banquet given In
his honor by the municipality of Tokyo
and chamber Of commerce he declared
that war between the United States
and Japan would "be crime against
modern civilization and as wicked as II
would be insane"
He added that neither people desired
It and that both governments would
do their utmost to guard against such
an awful catastrophe.
The secretary spoke with intense ear
nestness, his speech being the result Of
careful elaboration and preparation.
The banquet took place In the assem-
bly, room Of the Imperial hotel, WIS.,
count Shibusawa presiding. and was
attended by many prominent oflcials
and leading business men Of Tokyo.
Mr.. Taft sat on the right OF Wis
count Shibusawa, and MFR. O'Brien, the
new American ambassador to Japan,
was seated ON his left. The decOra-
tons Of the hall were magnificent
Among those present were many To-
dies. including Americans.
Yiscount Shibusawa In welcoming
Mr.. Taft payed 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 sxerted throughout the
world.
After the dinner the assembly room
presented q remarkable scene, every
one congratulating every one else on
what was considered a complete re-
moval Of the cloud that had arisen be-
tween Japan and the United States
and the silencing Of the sensational
lists.
Mr.. Taft began by giving thanks for
his welcome aud the evidence Of good
will. He referred to Japan's recent
war and said the Americans were
proud that Mr.. Roosevelt with the
prestige Of the American presidency.
FASTENED a peace that was honorable
to Japan and Russia.
He then spoke Of Japan's great prog
ress, the share America has had In
aiding It and said Americans were
proud Of Japan. which has always had
the cordial sympathy Of the United
States.
This brought the secretary down to
recent reports Of friction, and he said:
Nov, for the moment, there Is only
little cloud over our friendship Of
ffty years, but the greatest earth
quake Of the century could not shake
our amity. do not intend to consider
details.
II cannot trespass upon the jurlsdic-
ton Of the department Of state and
discuss the events In San Francisco,
but can say there Is nothing In them
that is incapable Of honorable and full
adjustment by ordinary diplomacy"
In speaking Of war MFR. Taft said he
did not hold that war is entirely un-
justiaable when international griev-
ances cannot otherwise be redressed.
But war In hell" he said, "and only
q great cause, which cannot be settled
by diplomacy, justifies it,"
War between Japan and the United
States, he declared, would be crime
against civilization. Neither desired
1t, neither would gain anything from
1t and both governments would strain
every nerve to prevent 1t.
The secretary characterized even the
suggestion as Infamous and declared
that Americas good will toward Japan
was as warm as ever.