The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-22
Taft Says Peaceful Relations
Will Continue for Years
To Come.
JAPAN is NOT WORRIED.
THAT COUNTRY DOES NOT De
SIRE TO WAR WITH UNITED
sTATES-cRiNA WISHES TO BE
SHOWN, HE SAYS.

New York, Dec 21-wirliam III.
Taft, secretary of war returned from
his trip around the world. bringing re-
newed assurance OF Japan's friendli-
ness toward the United States. but de-
clining to say anything with respect
TO the political situation in this coun-
try. He said that he had been too
long out, of intimate touch with politi-
cal affairs at home to discuss them in
any way. One of Mr.. Taft's inter
viewers had the temerity to ask:
We'll. Mr.. 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 train, saying that accumulated
matters in the war department would
keep his nose to the official grindstone
for some time to come. and the prep
aration Of his special report on the
Philippines, which would be in book
form, would also require much Of his
ceedingly well. the secretary said he
had taken daily fve-mile walks on the
decks of the Grant during the thirteen
days trip from Hamburg.
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 certainly
do not desire war with Japan. II there
was any war spirit anywhere in Japan.
I failed to find the slightest note of It.
Everywhere there was talk OF contin-
ued peace. ] speak very confidently
about this. Our trade relations with
Japan are extensive and constantly
growing. Japanese exports amount
annually to about $4,000, 900. of
which we take about one-third. The
exports consist largely Of mattings.
lace goods. embroideries and other
fancy work, in the production OF which
many people are interested. We In
turn ship vast quantities of -four. oil
and such commodities to Japan. This
sort of trade is a great pacificator."
What about the Pacific feet?"
The sailing must have been a mag
nificent sight. We have fine ships and
a fine personnel. and as long as the
Pacific ocean belongs to us as much as
to anybody else, see no reason why
We should not send our ships there OIL
a practice cruise. The Japanese are
too intelligent and high minded to at
tribute any false motive to the move
ment.
My trip had as it's only definite OBJ
ject, a report on conditions in the
Philippines. My visit to Japan was
only incidental. was much pleased
with conditions 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.
I'm China the American residents
were anxious for reinsurance as TO
Americas intention toward maintain
ing the open door policy. At the ban
quet in Shanghai endeavored to give
this assurance"
Secretary Taft presided at the ships
concert on Monday evening last and
was warmly toasted at the captains
dinner the night before reaching port
One of the diners. Prof Garfield, IT,
brarian OF Columbia university. ex-
pressed the hope that the entire COM
pany might meet again some day on 4
steamer named the President Taft"