The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-17
JAPAN GLAD HAND
1t Is Extended to the American
Fleet Today.
warm Words of Welcome by
Marquis Ito and Others.
SPIRIT OF GOOD WILL
visit OF Battleships Received
Token of Good.
Compared With Commodore
Perry's Fifty Years Ago.

TOXIC, Oct. 17.-"The whole peon1a of
japan unite in extending a most warm
and sincere welcome to their guests on
the American battleship fleet now an
preaching the harbor of Yokohama
The visit of these good ships and men
TO our empire is sincerely regarded as
an additionaltoken of the unbroken
friendship which has existed between
the Two nations since the coming to
Japan or Commodore Perry in 1852. Such
round-the-world cruise undertaken by
the magnificent navy of our friend
~ nelghbor breaks the record in naval
| annals, and 1T will be watched until its
completion with the most intense in
terest because of it's bearing upon the
naval relations and achievements of all
naval powers
L hope our friendship and CONNER
c1al relations with the United States
viii be more closely cemented by this
| auspiciouS event."
The foregoing are the words of well
come to the American battleship fleet
penned by Prince Ito, the foremost man
OF japan today and above all the
! Japanese people. He wrote them care
fully with his own hand and affixed
| his signature in the foreign office to-
day. In this message of welcome the
prince undoubtedly voiced the popular
| sentiment Of the people from the high
est to the lowest The Associated
Press has secured the following signed
| statement on the coming of the Ameri-
can battleships from the greatest men
living in japan today.
| Prince Yamagata says:
THE cruise of this great American
fleet, an unprecedented undertaking.
affords US an opportunity of evidencing
our sincere friendship and giving our
guests a sincere welcome. The occa-
sion will undoubtedly make 1t possible
| for the naval men of Japan to learn
| from the experiences of their senior col
leagues and the visit assuredly will re-
| suit In further cementing the friendly
relations between the two countries
which will welcome the American fleet
| as an evidence of friendship and also
| as a guarantee of the peace of the
whole world"
| Marquis Matsukata, ex-premier and
minister of finance writes:
Fifty years ago Commodore Perry
! try to foreign intercourse; today Ad-
| miral Sperry brings glad tidings of
peace and good will The friendly re-
lations between America and Japan
decorates the pages of the worlds his
tory of civilization. My sincere hopes
and expectations are that these same
relations will go on forever. Conse-
quently, 1 welcome the American fleet
with my whole heart"
Marquis Katsura, premier and minis
| ter of finance, one of the elder states
men and member of the military
council of empire. writes as follows:
"I welcome the American warships
with the most profound appreciation Of
the important results which are ex-
pected to follow the coming OF TINS
magnificent fleet in such hearty spirit
| of good will. The visit will give op-
/ To the friandlV roIa-
tions already existing between the two
| countries"
Vice AdmiraPs Greeting.
Vice Admiral Baron Saita. minister
of marine writes:
words are inadequate to express
our delight in welcoming the American
! battleship to Japan. The traditional
good relations existing between the two
nations will be further strengthened
| by this happy meeting of the two nav
| les I sincerely hope that the Ameri-
| can officers and men will enjoy their
| sojourn in this country"
Admiral Count Tofna. chief of the
general STAFF of the navy and hero of
| the battle of the sea of Japan writes
as follows
IT sincerely welcome the visit of this
magnificent fleet representing nation
whose friendship with our country is
traditional and I sincerely hope that
| the fleets of America and Japan may De
| the happy means of uniting the two
nations in eternal bonds whose Sc
curity shall be guaranteed by the men
| and ships of both countries. May our
friendship which has lasted so long
continue to grow and flourish forever" "
! Admiral Count Gombei Yamamoto, ex-
| minister of marine says:
1--WE cannot but feel deep and intense
| satisfaction when we think of the hap
py future that should follow this mem
orable visit. I send my sincere well
nj
Lieutenant General Viscount Ter
auchi. at present minister of war and
| at one time acting foreign minister,
says:
| fleet of battleships aggregating more
| than 100000 tons, is making the long
est voyage ever attempted in naval his
| tory. and he is very welcome to our
harbor Such feat could not be ac-
conplished without perfect training,
! of the men of the admiraPs command.
| II is marvellous achievement and ev-
| ery true Japanese feels as do in well
! coming the fleet and men,"
Proud of Their Progress.
Baron Ishii, vice minister of foreign
| affairs writes:
''The Japanese people rejoice univer-
| sally in the advent of this American
| deet which recalls the mission of Com
modore Perry and his suadron. an
advent cherished in the memory of ev-
| ery Japanese. While conscious of our
| own advance since those days, the peo-
| pie of Japan note with admiration the
| wonderful progress made by America
/ during this same period. I confidently
| believe that the present visit will prove
| as powerful a factor in uniting the
bonds between the two countries as did
| the coming of Commodore Perry in
| their inauguration
Baron Goto says:
LAS minister of communications 1
/ desire nothing more ardenIly that the
| development OF maritime relations