The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-22
Mission Is To Invite Oriental
And Occidental Civil
cations.
BUSINESS CENTER SHIFTS.
TIDE DRIFTS FROM LONDON AND
NEW YORK TO THE PACIFIC
OCEAN, SAYS MR.. MlDzuNo,
CONSUL GENERAL.

New York, Nov 21.-Kokichi Mid
zuno. the Japanese consul general
here declares that international peace
Is what the Japanese most desired at
this time. In an interview his talk
was of the Japan that has grown up
since the time when Commodore Per
ry invited Japan to enter the comfy
of nations
only few days ago." said Consul
General Midzuno, when the Admirals
and men of your fleet visited Japan
they had delightful surprise to hear
in Toxic 10000 Japanese school boys
and girls sing your own Star Spangl-
ed Banner in English, and the gallant
men of your fleet remained at the
threshold of the Shimbashi Station,
which is like your Grand Central, with
tears in their eyes.
Fortunately built upon the founda-
ton of peculiar refinement of the
East and inspired with the wonders
of the modern West, we have been
making strenuous efforts in the strug-
gle of worldly competition unto the
goal of refinement in which, l am
proud to say, we have proved oursel-
yes worthy enough.
The commerce of the world, after
undergoing considerable historical
charges, moving it's center from the
Mediterranean to the Atlantic, has
made London and New York the two
principal markets of the world. There
is, however, every indication of this
center turning overland TO the West
and of the Pacific Ocean becoming the
future center of the worlds COM
merce, and the vast soil and popula-
ton of Asia becoming the most, or
one of the most, important CONNER
cial fields, to which the commercial
and industrial activities of America
and Europe will be directed to dispose
of their abundant products.
'Is it not, then the excellent oppor.
tunity and pleasant duty of Japan and
her people to furnish Western coun-
tries with the facilities and the infor.
nation of the vast and prospective
Asiatic markets for their goods and to
have the enormous natural and agri-
cultural resources of the Far East op-
ened to the free and liberal competi.
ton of the commercial nations of the
world at large, and in return to en-.
courage the introduction of the mod
ern and Occidental moral and physical
civilization in every branch of life OF
the Eastern people?
These are the ultimate objects and
the ideals of Japan as nation, and
believe it to be a mission than provi
dence has allotted to Japan to unite
and to assimilate these two vast
streams of Oriental and Occidental
civilizations, thus contributing to the
happiness and well-being of the hui
man race at large.
How can this be done? How can
such pleasant but tremendous enter
prises be accomplished? / say with
out hesitancy and reserve that they
will and must be done in peace and
by peace. I candidly admit that Jap
/ an has had two great wars in the last
quarter of a century, and fought many
severe battles in which can say, with
/ due modesty, my fellow-countrymer
have displayed their valor and theil
courage to the administration of the
world, but / claim at the same time
that these battles were fought in self
| defense, if not for her very existence
ITO me and to my people the mos
| valuable asset Of Japan, as it pertains
| to the still further advancement o.
| progress and, therefore, civilization, il