New-York tribune., 1908-12-20
JAPAN ASKS NO MORE
U. S. HER TRUSTED FRIEND
Baron T'akGhira Tells LOtOs Club
Peace Vas Not IN Danger.

The Christmas spirit strongly in evidence
last night at the Lotos Club. where Baron Kogoro
Takahra Japanese Ambassador to the United
States. the guest Of honor at dinner. That
all pervadng sentiment Of the season, Peace on
earth. good will men," was. the message that
flashed from America to Japan and back again
from the hearts of the Nipponese, where ii found
Judgement, TO those who represented the United
States, at this symposium of friendship. in one
case officially.
The dinner was of more and deeper significance
than the usual gathering of its character, where
general topics superfcialy discussed; 1t had
a mission; it the reaff1rmatiou of the tradi-
tional friendship that has existed between the
two nations since Commodore Perry, Of the United
States navy. bIazed the trail for Japanese ad-
| vancement, commercial and social
It to this purpose that the speakers ad-
dressed their views; without oratoricaI extrava-
gances, but with evident earnestness Those who
contributed to this tightening Of the bond, be-
sides Baron Takahira and Frank r. Lawrence,
president of the Lotos Club, were Rear Admiral
Goodrich, I. s. N. Seth Low Hamilton Holt, the
Rev DR.. Stephen S. Wise the Rev. Or. Robert
S. Macarthur, Martin ". Littleton, Andrew Car
negie, Melville z. Stone, K. Midzuno, Japanese
consul general; John S. Wise and James NJ Beck
Baron Takahira discussed in public last night for
the first time the agreement signed recently by
himself and Secretary Root regarding the policy OF
the United States IN China and the Pacific This
agreement, said the diplomat, simply a reaf-
frmation of what had been understood between the
ton between trusted friends
The Ambassador spoke deprecatingly Of the effort
a year so ago of part Of the press to make 1t
appear that the rupture Of the existing friendly re-
Iations imminent.
I'VE are doing our best" said the baron, and
we have always regarded the United States as the
best friend we had of all the nations"
LOOKS TO UNITED STATES FOR GUIDANCE
His country the ambassador added, looks to the
United States not only for friendship but guidance
{ NH T1YrI ar1T,Ia
never placed much Importance N the war claTnor'
and certainly Japan never desired to wage war
! against this country"
This reference to President Roosevelt also
ated enthusiasm: "On the other hand. with your
great President, Mr.. Roosevelt, a broad minded
man. devoted TO peace and humanitarianisn, it
was impossible TO believe that this country had
any desire to break the friendship"
Baron Takahira caused some laughter by remark
ing that a long speech by a diplomat generally
indicated that affairs we're not entirely satisfactory
so he refrained from creating any such impression
He predicted an important effect in the new
American-Japanese agreement and said that 1t was
already beginning be fe.t.
BARON TAKAHIRAs SPEECH
The ambassador said:
used 10 90 to the Harlem River Tor fishing and
saw thai the boatrnan always rowed hdTd @ W1en
the tide was against him; in the same ay 4gQ now
see that diplomat speaks much W3en ] ms re now
between the United States and Japan, there is
~. IQLy osgfe afn sIa a1 in NO. the best possible cond
ton l think we may say there is no" nouns ms
more to be desired ii the relations OF OUT Son
for the future. it would be well TO consider what
we have had to experience for these rH Lev s1eh a
terrible time regard relations as we eoUlu
Nc doubt there We're some undesirable incidents dents
occurring between some peopie Tairs Of i and in 10
way be regarded as menacng to our s even
them in some quarters, and even war r i1nape
was VAS a+Iq%eo j 10 eQistn between the two
g2DeTnents f1S 5Gt saHb m fbe time between the two
fowed to occur that might otherwise follow such
took opportqpity at dinner given ven tn IN %y e
clare that there is nc art in our game oB Los
fTTniv repeat the same assertion, and add that
there Is such word as diplomacy, as popu-a11S
The declaration of the two government re9s9t9 4sga4g
70 tfer respective policy in China and the Pacihc
is good example It is simply fbtn years ago and
there IS practically nothing which was not
6efWeen trusted friends. It requires no formality
% such declaration made between the govern.
Tnents great moral standing IKE nose ot 80 80
an important effect. which think is already be
gal9g sa To 0f fbaf a te m Beo6es Of each country viii
have the same mind as their own government IN IN
6onTn5ed Gq5ng f1S FheP Pf rights t % be @ and
benefit of the countries. ...t- ,rfe,
Gentlemen. I thank you for the attention. L WISH
you happiness and prosperity
KIND WORDS FOR JAPAN.
Mr. Lawrence. who presided, in his Introductory
speech said that the dinner would probably be the
.sast farewell" dinner in the present CLUBHOUSE IN
Fifth avenue In a few weeks the club will move
70 its new home where he said II would entertain
more generously. AT this there were loud signs
and EXPIRE essions Of Too bad, too bad"
Turning his remarks to Baron Iakahlra' Ihe
president said that America admired japan more
IN peace, if possible, than in war, and he praised
the work OF the medical department or the Jap
anese army in the war with Russia.
He spoke of the fine reception OF the American
fleet in Tapan. which Mr.. Lawrence said was only
an expression OF the common principle o. the TWO
countries lie wished Japan peaceful prosperity
and expressed the hope that the two countries
would continue their friendly rivalry.
Dr. Wise in his remarks nominated Baron +dAa-
bira and Secretary Root candidates for the
Nobel peace prize, because Of the peace breeding
character of the agreement that they signed
Rear Admiral Goodrich told Of the misconceptions
and misunderstanding between people when they
do not understand each other Americans and
Japanese. he said, were kin IN high Ideals Oh ha-
tonaI and personal honor. he told Of his pleasure
over the eatment the American feet received in
Japan.
Seth Low said that the visit OF the fleet had
cemented the feeling between the two peoples.
Consul General Midzuno Of Japan thanked the
diners for the honors paid TO his countryInen ana
discussed the two countries, saying il the re-
6nen1ent of Japan's centuries that enabled II TO
assiu1iate the present civilization Peace he SAID,
is The most valuable asset Of Japan and that japan
and the United States most interested IN the
Pacific and were responsible for the peace Of that
Dfplomacv he declared, no longer relations
between ENJOYS but between people. He spoke OF
the commerce between the two countries and said
II could be strengthened only by more intimate re-