Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-11
AMBASSADOR TAKAHIRA.

made at Philadelphia five years ago on
the position of Japan in the far east,
and in this connection said:
Il remember | said then. among other
things. that the sincere desire of the
Japanese government and people was to
have all neighboring countries realize
that mutual interests can best be pro-
NOTED by the maintenance OF peace. the
promotion OF commerce and industry and
the strengthening of the ties of interde-
pendence. 1t is not meant by this that q
race coalition should be formed hostile
to the interest of other countries. My
meaning simply IS that country to be
truly prosperous should have peaceful
and prosperous neighbors. That naturally
leads to interdependence. not politically.
but socially and commercially and estab-
lish the surest guarantee of peace to all
concerned
To-day, after five years since the de-
livery of my address just referred to.
do not see any reason for the necessity
of modifying what / said then. The
only difference you may have noticed in
the position of Japan is that. instead
of forming a race coalition with our
neighboring countries. as it was then
suspected in some quarters. Japan has en-
tered into treaty of political interde-
pendence with nation of your kindred
race and of the same creed. l mean. of
course. Great Britain. our honOred ally.
For Peace in the Far East.
But this treaty was concluded purely
and simply to secure the peace and, there
fore, the prosperity of the far east. II
has no Interior motives against any
nation, much less against the United
States with whom we have the historical
relations of friendship and sympathy in
variably maintained since the beginning
of our diplomatic intercourse. In spite
of all that / have heard quite often some
inquiries made in certain quarters as to
the extent of applicability Of that treaty
in case of conflict between the United
States and Japan L am. OF course, not
in a position to define the scope of that
compact. but l can assure you that we
never had any thought of making even
mere inquiries on such d subject.
I'VE are perfectly satisfied with the real
object of that treaty. which is, as l said
before, of an entirely pacific nature. ]
NAV also mention to you that. since its
conclusion. the general tendency of the
world has been to adjust by means OF
agreement questions of any Importance
that were formerly considered stumbling
block in the path of friendly intercourse
between the powers, and in that way to
remove the cause of dispute lying between
them 1t is. therefore, gratifying to think
that the desire of peace for the far east,
as expressed by Japan and England by
means of the said treaty, has been fol-
lowed ana Ny VIC
conclusion of agreements by dlHeren!
powers in order to promote the peace1u'
intercourse between them.
Friendship for the States.
Japan has no compact of like nature
with the United States, the ambassador
added, but her friendship has been always
so cordial that some one called it the
"unwritten alliance" He then touched
upon the late agitation regarding the Inn
migration question concluding as fol-
lows:
II am not pleased to be able to say
that. while we have to maintain ouI
rights in all respects. there are now be-
tween the United States and Japan nc
questions of any magnitude likely to re-
main unsettled much longer. This Is al
once the result of the exertiOn of such
friendly sentiment between the two gov
ernments as have Just mentioned, and
am firmly convinced that If there are any
other questions that may arise hereafter
to occupy the minds of the public men
of the two countries it will be that sim
cerity of friendship that will exercise Its
power to bring about their satisfactory
conclusion.
Gentlemen. there is no art in our game
of diplomacy. 1t is the sincerity OF
friendship that will not only adjust any
difficulties that may arise between us, but
lead us to march on the path of progress
for the development of our common inter
ests. Believe me, therefore. when l say
that in our game of diplomacy my trump
is hearts,.