The San Francisco call., 1908-10-21
APAN[S[ EMPEROR
WELCOMES SP[RRY
Friendly Messages Are Ex-'
changed Between Mikado and
President Roosevelt
Round of Entertainments Keeps
Officers and Sailors of
Big Fleet Busy

TOKYO. Oct. 20.-The emperor of
Japan at tiffin today received in audi
ence Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry,
commander in chief of the American
battleship fleet; the three rear admirals
commanding divisions, a score of cap
| tains and the chief Of staff and flag
| llieutenants. The ceremony at the i'm
perial palace, which occurred shortly
before noon. was one of the most brill
liant features of the weeks celebration.
The American officers in gold braided
| full dress and the magnificent apparel
of the functionaries in attendance upon
the court made a glittering and inn
posing picture.
| The following Is the text of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's message to Rear Ad-
mfral Sperry for transmission to the
emperor:
Convey to his majesty, the emperor
of Japan, my best wishes for his con-
| tinued good health and happiness and
| that of all the inhabitants of his realm.
Express to his majesty the high graft
| fication afforded me and the people of
] the United States at the opportunity
which permits the commander in chief
| of the United States fleet in person to
present my appreciation of the friend
| ship which has existed from the ear
Japan, and of the honor to the United
States in this invitation to the United
States Atlantic fleet to visit the empire
/ of japan in its practice cruise around
| the world You will express to his
majesty, the emperor, my earnest wish
| for the strengthening and continu-
ance of the cordial relations which ex-
| ist and have always existed between
the two countries
mt q
follows:
ESIPEROR'S REPLY
! Admiral Sperry, it affords me spe-
cial pleasure to welcome your party
as the representative of the American
navy and to receive through you from
your respected president his very
| friendly messag ge. 1t is my request that
you assure the president of the United
States that 1 most sincerely appre
ciate and most cordially reciprocate his
sentiments of friendship and good will.
| 1T is to me a source of profound
satisfaction that the most cordial rela-
tions exist between Japan and the
| United States, and my thanks are due
the president for affording my subjects
by your visit the opportunity to give
new proof of their sincere attachment
! for your countrymen.
| II also wish tosconvey to the presi-
dent this message:
The historic relations, the good un-
derstanding and the genuine friendship
of the United States 1 count as q. valued
heritage of my reign, and it shall be in
the future, as il has been in the past,
my constant aim and desire to weld the
ties of amity uniting the two countries
in indissoluble bonds of good neighbor-
hood and perfect accord.
Il trust the SAME success that has so
far attended your voyage may still be
with you to the end
The exchange of messages between
President Roosevelt and the emperor
was evidently planned as surprise.
When the presidents message was re-
ceived, its evident cordial tone was at
once accepted as the highest official. in
dorsement of the peaceful mission and
friendly spirit with which the feet left
the Atlantic and is now visiting Japan;
hence the unusual tone OF the en-
peror's reply was understood imrnedi-
ately as indicating that the entente be-
tween America and Japan. although un
written, was most sincere and real.
For the present Tokyo is the center
of attraction for the fleet sailors, many
officers and about 500 men visiting this
| city daily, but Yokohama is filled with
| bluejackets, who are offered every form
| of entertainment, while large num-
bers of others are visiting nearby
points of interest by means of special
trains.
ORDER PREVAILS
Up to the present time perfect or
| der has prevailed among the sailors
on shore liberty despite their long tour
of sea duty. In every case where there
has been a possibility of trouble the
Japanese have met the situation with
utmost courtesy, avoiding any fric-
ton.
! Wednesdays program will bring to-
! gether the largest gathering of in
vited guests, both residents of this city
and visiting Americans that has yet
| occurred during the reception, when
! 1000 persons assemble as guests of
Admiral Togo at garden party. The
affair will be held at the Shinjuku inn
periaI gardens
! In the evening Premier Katsura will
/ entertain the American officers at din
ner, and following this will come the
social event of the weeks entertain
ment. a grand ball.
Other events of the day will be
luncheons given by Baron Terauchi.
Baron Mitsui and a Japanese dinner, at
which Baron Iwasaki will be the host
There will also be many other forms
of entertainment, which completely fill
the day.
There is no diminution in the popular
enthusiasm with which the Americans
are received on the streets. and where
ever the carriages bearing the Ameri-
can officers appear the streets are lined
with cheering masses of Japanese. 1t
| is "banzaiv everywhere for the officers
and men of the feet and the most popu-
/ lar cry among the children of Japan
is: Three cheers for America
The baseball game finally resulted
in victory for the Keio team, after
Is innings had been played.
AMBASSADOR RIDDLES HEALTH RE-
| SToRED-St. Petersburg, Oct. 20-Iobn w
Riddle the American ambassador, returned TO
| this city today from his sojourn in the south Of
Russia. His health is now completely restored.