Evening star., 1907-10-31
.TAfT'S CHANGED PLAN
He May Recur to His Original
itinerary.
SOME REASONS ASSIGNED
Complications Resulting From Re-
ception by Kaiser.
UyoIYY n CcTAp pT Ycu pprrEnENT
WOULD ESTABLISH PRECEDENT
Visits to the Other Capitals of
Europe Could Hardly Be Avoided
Under the Circumstances

There are indications that the decision of
Secretary Taft to recur to his original
itinerary and sail from Manila for Vladi-
vostok on his homeward journey next
Monday, instead of the week following, as
he suggested to the President. was after
all based upon international and not do
mestic considerations. The fact is that
soon after it had been officially known
that the Secretary intended to return to
the United States by way of Siberia and
Europe various foreign officers of the
countries which he would probably tra-
verse on his way to the Atlantic seaboard
began to interest themselves In the de-
tails of his itinerary. That interest was
not confined to Europe, but extended to
Asia. and finding that the Emperor of
Japan was about to entertain Secretary
Taft the Chinese empress caused inquiries
to be made to learn whether the Secretary
could not be induced to visit the celestial
capital Although obliged by the route
taken by the steamer on which he traVeied
to visit Shanghai. and thus land upon
Chinese soil the Secretary found an ex-
cuse for declining the imperial invitation
by reason of the fact that its acceptance
would prevent him from redeeming his
promise to be present in person at the
initial session of the Philippine assembly
Proposed Reception by the Kaiser.
But it was otherwise with the Euro
pcan governments, and. although orig
inaily minded to travel unofiicially and
to decline all formal invitations to en-
tertainment in Europe. Secretary TAFT.
upon learning informally that Emperor
Wilhelm would be pleased to meet him
In Berlin, submitted to President Roose-
welt a plea for an extension OF the
time allowed for his trip by almost
week, In order that he might arrive
a Berlin ut the time when the German
emperor returns to that capital from
his visit to England. That application
for an extension was received in W asn-
ineton while the President was in the
Louisiana canebrakes. and the answer
could not be returned at once. When
1t was returned and what was its ma
ture cannot be positively stated, be-
cause the President absolutely declines
to discuss the subject in any way-a
fact which is construed as conflrmatory
of the accuracy of the Manila reports
printed yesterday to the effect that
some condition at Berlin had caused
the Secretary's change in plan
Would Establish Precedent.
Naturally the question arises as to why
any happening at Berlin might influence
Secretary Tafts movement. One answer is
that Il has been found quite Impossible
for an official of his high rank and promI-
nence in the international view to visit
one European capital as the guest of the
sovereign without doing the same in the
capitals of the other countries through
which he must pass on his homeWaro
tourney SO the visit to the German en-
peror might necessitate a formal call upon
President Faliieres In Paris, and in order
to avoid possible international jealousies
1t might probably be necessary LOT thc
Secretary, after being cordially received
by the French president to cross the chan
mel and pay his respects to King Edward
In fact in anticipation of such visits,
diplomatic representatives of some of the
European governments have already been
making inquiries at Washington as to the
details of Secretary Taft's itinerary as
preliminary to extending to him formal in
vitatIons to their various capitals, and II
Is believed to have been the decision or
tii.. administration that it would not be eH
pcdient that all these invitations should
b.. accepted chat has led TO the change IN
the Secretary's plans which may enable
him to consistently decline all OF them
for the German emperor not being IN ber-
lin when the Secretary reaches that city
he might not then be under the necessity
Of visiting the other capitals