Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-08
D|SCRED|TS INTERVIEW
Ambassador Says Sakamoto
Wouldn't Be So Foolish.
BROWNSON DISBELIEVES 1T
Japanese Admiral Represented as
Soothing at Sailors Patriotism.
CONTRARY TO THE REGULATIONS
Naval officers in Japan Not Permitted
to Make Such Comments as Are
Attributed to Him.

The Hochi of Toxic this morning printeA
an interview with Admiral Sakamoto, In
which the admiral was quoted as follows:
Should hostilities break out between
Japan and America, the result would be
indecisive, owing to want of proper bases
of operations. Such bases as exist are too
distant for practical purposes Even the
nearest bases, namely, the Pescadores, Ca
vite and Manila, are GOO miles from one an
other. Even If the Washington govern
ment should decide on a war. 1T is doubtful
whether the Americans serving in the navy
are sufficiently patriotic to fight.
American naval officers are brilliant fig
ures at balls and social gatherings. but
they very deficient in professional
training and practice. 1t is too much to
expect a burning patriotism in the Ameri-
can naval service in case Of war with ia
pan. 1t is likely that most of the crews
would desert and leave the Ships
Brownson Discredits Interview.
When the attention Of Admiral Brownson,
chief of the bureau Of navigation. Navy
Department, was called to the above inter
view today. he said he was satisfied that
Admiral Sakamoto must have been mis-
quoted Said Admiral Brownson: AL
though spurred on by a spirit of unrest or
homesickness, sailors have sometimes left
the American navy, they have always done
1t in times of peace. There is no record of
one VI our DlueJdChelS ueSeTtluS III tlIle
of war
"Too Foolish" Says Aoki.
When the Japanese ambassadors atten-
ton was called to the interview he laughed
II haven't the least idea that Admiral
sakamoto said anything Of that kind. 1t is
too foolish.
terview, has no standing that would lead
one to give credence to such a statement.
The admiral Is young man who has done
fine service and has spent much time in
Europe. You can be sure, he said. nothing
Of the kind Is attributed to him. In Japan.
as here. officers of the navy are not per-
mitted to comment upon matters in rela-
ton to other nations, and If they were so
privileged Admiral Sakamoto would have
said no such foolish thing as that.
The ambassador said In reply to ques-
ton that the matter of this country ex-
Guiding Japanese immigrants could not
bring the two nations to war because that
is a privilege that the Japanese and many
other governments exercise at their pleas
ure.
Smiles at the idea of War.
The ambassador simply smiled at the pub
lished report from various sources declar-
ing that war between the United States and
Japan Is inevitable. He shook his head
and said there was no change in the stu
alton between the two countries, and there
was no poSSlDlnty OF Japan considering
war because of anything that has taken
place.
"All there is to give vitality to the dis
CUSTOM he said, lis in California, ard,
reduced to a narrower limit, is in San
Francisco. The newspapers Of that city
quite while ago printed some extrava-
CANT things in relation to the Japanese,
and in the course of time those publica-
| lions. reaching Japan were replied to in
| like extravagant spirit. There is in Japan
a free press, just as there is in this coun-
try. The government cannot control press
utterances there. and newspapers publish
what they please. Now, that is all there
is TO it,