Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01
Dinner Of the Japanese Society
in New York.
TELLS SOME WAR SECRETS
Depreciates Bellicose Talk in This
Country.
NATIONS SHOULD BE FRIENDS
II Ii to the Interest Of Each to Con-
tinue Their Amicable Relations.
Election of Officers.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February 29.-About sixty
members of. the Japan Society-ef New
York gathered in the ballroom of the
Hotel Aston this afternoon to hear Prof.
Takahashi of the Imperial University at
Toxic read a paper upon the service rem
dered to Japan by the United States dur
ing the Russo-Japanese war in the matter
of caring for the removal of japanese non
combatants from hostile territory and
safeguarding Japanese interests in Rus
STA and the various lands held by. Russia
in the far east during the struggle.
Prof Takahashi, who is head of the de-
partment of international law at the I'M
perial University, and who played an i'm
portant part prior to and during the war
as one Of the "seven professors, occupy
ing ex-offlcio positions of advisers to
the emperor prefaced his reading with
an expression of the hope that better
understanding between the peoples of the
two governments might do away with all
rumors of war and belligerent expressions
on both sides of the Pacific.
Wartime Friendship.
Some writer's and public men in this
country said Prof. Takahashi. have
given voice to the lamentable sentiment
that Japan was preparing herself for war
with this country. 1t has been my honest
endeavor for some months past to make
the public, both of Japan and America,
come to a realization of the fact that
nothing could be more foreign to the mll-
tual interests of both nations than Del
ligerent attitude on the part of either or
both. 1t two nations such as Japan and the
United States suffer a breach of friend
Ship however small, because of the sensa-
tionalism voiced by their uneducated and
hot headed people. the consequences lie
entirely within the hands of the better
classes in each country. and upon them
lie the responsibilities of what happens In
the future
The Japanese professors paper had to
deal with the efforts that were made by
the United States consular agents in
Vladivostok. New Chwang; Mukden and
other points affected by the opening of
hostilities in behalf of the Japanese nom
combatants who were forced to leave
Russian territory on very short short no.
tice after the attack on the cruisers at
Chemulpo signalized the joining of the
struggle. He paid high compliment to
the direction of this work. which ema-
mated from Secretary Hay. and to the
scrupulous protection of Japanese In
terests at ST. Petersburg by the Ameri-
can ambassador there at the time.
Bravery of a Consul.
Prof Takahashi also revealed Kokichi
Midzuno. the recently appointed japanese
consul general to this city, in the light of
a daring servant of the emperor in the
days just preceding the outbreak of the
war. Mr. Midzuno, he said, was Japa-
nese consul at Chefoo. in North China. at
the time of the war, and just about forty
eight hours before the attack of the jap
anest torpedo flotilla upon the Russian
ships at Port Arthur ne received notifica-
ton from his government of the impend-
ing blow, and was ordered to rush a
steamer to Port Arthur and Dalny and
carry away all Japanese residents who
could be collected on short notice. Mr..
Midzuno got to Port Arthur only twelve
hours in advance of the Japanese torpedo
fotilla. and managed to carry away
shipload Of refugees
: officers Elected.
Prof Takahashi was followed by Dr.
A. Knox, who was for many years
resident of Japan. He spoke on Gov
erning Ideas Of the Japanese"
At the election for officers for the en-
suing year. which preceded the readings,
the following were chosen:
President, John H. Finley; honorary
president. Kogoro Takahira, Japanese
ambassador at Washington; vice presi-
dent, Lindsay Russell; honorary vice
presidents. Admiral George Dewey. Maj
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant. DIR. Jokichi
Takamine. Jacob II. Schiff. Gen. Stewart
L. Woodford: secretary, Eugene c. Wor-
den: honorary secretaries. K. Fukui and
Samuel T. Dutton; treasurers, Isaac n
Sel1gman and Ypiiiro Ono