Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-17

AmOaeS0OOl AohdAlld
friendship actually existing between them
II is crime against humanity. against
civilization. against the weil-beins of
mankind
The baron and his wife left Rome three
weeks ago and after a short stay in Lon
don they took the Etruria al Liverpool.
On the way ove- Baron Taxa hira had
the place OF honor at the captains table.
sitting at his right hand. with Charles w.
Morse at the captains left. AS soon as
the boat locked Yesterday morning the
haron, with Secretary Hanihara of the
Japanese embassy at Washington. went
20 the Holland House. 1t was in his
rooms there that the ambassador received
the newspaper men.
Recalls Washington Career.
Il knew that l would have to submit
to an interview. said the baron after
he had shaken hands all around. AND
having had experience in America before.
l knew that IL you asked me a lot OF
questions I would be greatly embarrassed
and probably could not answer all OF
them So have written out what l wish
TO say and I will read it to you
Baron Takahira then sat down at
table and read from a manuscript in
English that he had in his pocket This
is what. he dictated:
IT am very pleased to come back to
this great country i'm my present capacity.
started my, career as attache of the Jap
anese legation in Washington some thirty
years ago. and l have always regarded
that city as my cradle. l am now going
hack there as the personal representative
of my emperor accredited to the President
of the United States. and I think I can
consider my coming as "A triumphal entry
into that city.
Il recall to mind at this moment the
pleasant experience i had there through
out the trying time during my last stay
there. Those were the most terrible two
years in my diplomatic life. working as
I was day and night But the sympathy
I received from yotn people diminished
the anxiety. which would otherwise have
been immense.
Appreciates Sympathy of America.
NO one knew better than / how sim
cere and true were the expressions of your
sentiment then. What L said at that time
expressed just what thought OF you. and
It must be remembered by those who have
an interest in me.
II may say that I am the same man a.
was and OF the same mind as when
left Washington to return 10 japan in De-
cember. 1865.
During my absence from this country
questions have arisen about the segrega-
ton Of japanese school children in the
schools of the Pacific coast and about
Japanese immigration. cannot. of
will deal with what remains to require my
attention. Yet in spite OF all the excite
ment and speculation repeated from time
to time during the discussion of these
questions. there never has been a change
iu the friendship of the two governments.
which has been historically established
between them. And they are both IS sn-
c.re as ever in these cord al relations.
This is at least what ] am given to I'M
derstand. and am going back TO Wash
ington with confident belief Ia find the
same good trends there that | left be
hind me two years ago.
Voyage of the Fleet.
''.As TO the voyage of the American fleet
to the Pacific. SO much talked about re-
Gently. l consider it purely an American
AFFAIR. l hear that there have been all
sorts Of speculation advanced In regard
TO the motive behind such a voyage, but
1 have always thought the most reason
able motive we could assign to it was
that Of naval maneuver on a large
scale.
THE United States is a country OF the
nlos: pacific intentions. as has been well
proved in Its history. AS We say In our
proverb. Don't forget war in time Of
peace ii mus. be necessary even for so
great country as this to ascertain now
AMI then the working capacity OF its
ships and the good discipline of its sail
ors. You will certainly learn a grea;
deal from such long cruise and such a
large force
The fleet is not only going To the Pa
cifc coast. but at the same time il is
passing through South American waters.
And If there is anything TO Indicate tina :
is voyage is demonstration. il mus.
he a demonstration TO the world al large
in order TO show that the United States
has such a great power to be sent out AT
any moment in support OF any gr at
GAUGE. which is q; the bot tom OF all 4 ner-
lea diplomacy.
No Suspicion in Japan.
We in japan therefore. have no rea-
son to be suspicious about the fleets visit
IhA. the Japanese papers have been pub
fishing lately their desire and intention
. welcome your fleet IL the ships should
rome TO Japan. This shows how our
people regard his cruise.
..You know il has been we'll said by one
90 your famous American generals that
var is hell Nowadays the concurrent
opinion among the best military experts
OF the great powers is that war is more
te!lsh than II used 10 he. owing to the
treat scientific improvement applied con-
star thy to Notwithstanding machines.
A.er saving that man who could
credit the belief in the imminencc o; MAR
hetween Japan and America was commit
ting a crime against civilization. Baron
rshahira concluded his interview with
theRe words:
Ouch war. IL ever .ough:. would he
tn. most inhuman event in the world
r:sts.ry. Our people. at least. do not thin;
o: the possibility Of such an unfortunate
event"