The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-21
Cordial Invitation Is Extended to Visit Japan By Japan-
 ese Ambassador
INVITATION IS ACCEPTED
 IN FR|ENDL|ESI TERMS
Admiral Sperry Will Take His Fleet Several Thousand Miles Out of the Way To Give the Japs a Sight
 of Real Fighters.


 Washington, March 2o--The American battleship fleet is to visit Japan. The desire of the Emperor of the island king dom to play host to the Big Sixteen' was laid before Secretary Root yesterday by Baron Takahira the Japanese ambas- sador The invitation, which was couched in the most cordial terms. was made the subject of extended consideration by President Roosevelt and his entire cabi- let today. Secretary Root was directedi to accept the invitation, and the accepts ance was laid before the Japanese am-l bassador late today. It is regarded mi official circles here as more than nkelyi that China will be next to bid for d look at the fleet and should this be the case, the invitation would be accepted.
 Secretary Metcalf and Admiral Pills bury, chief of navigation. are arranging the details of the new itinerary. Witni the exception of China, it Is believed to have been determined that all other invi- tations, should any be received, will bs declined, for at best the fleet will not now be Able to reach the Atlantic sea- board before the first of next March, The itinerary which seems to be the most di- rect, includes stops at the Hawaiian islands Samoa, Melbourne. Sydney, Man. fla. Yokohama-should that port be se- .ected a stopping place in Japan-possiby a Chinese port, back to the Philippines and then home by way of the suez canal. w1tn only such stops as are necessary for eoaling.
 The fall target practice has been 
 CT before or after the visit to Japan. The desire to have the fleet return to its home { station may lead to curtailment of the month planned for Manila.
 Japan will have the ships a week. ac- cording to tentative plans.
 The acceptance of the Japanese invita- ton is regarded in official circles as of considerable importance in the way of demonstration of the cordiality existing between the American and Japanese gov- ernments. The added trip is nearly equar in distance to a voyage from New York. to Europe.
 Late tonight the state department gave out the Japanese note inviting the Amerl- can battleshp fleet to visit Japan and the Presidents response accepting the invi- tation. The correspondence was as fol- iows:
 Japans Invitation. Japanese Embassy Washington, March 1S 1908.
 "sir:-Under instructions from his majestys minister for foreign affairs, have the honor to communicate to you that the imperial government. having learned of the contemplated cruise of the United States battleship fleet from San Francisco to the Philippine islands. are sincerely anxious to be afforded an op- Iortunity to cordially welcome that mag nificent fleet and to give enthusiastic expression to the sentiments of friendship and admiration invariably entertained by the people of Japan toward the people of the United States.
 "I am further instructed to inform you that the imperial government is firmly convinced of the reassuring effect which the visit of the American fleet to the shores of Japan will produce upon the traditional relations and good under standing and mutual sympathy which so happily exist between the two nations. and to express to you the hope of the imperial government that the fleet may be instructed to call at the principal ports
  clf1c. Accept. sir the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.
 TX. TAKAHIRA. Hon. Elhu Root, Secretary of State.s
 Invitation Accepted. x Though Secretary Root directed the re-, ply to the Japanese note, 1t was prepared and signed by Assistant Secretary Bacon follows:
 Department of State.
 Washington, March 20 1908. ''I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your valued note of the 18th inst by which you are so good as to convey, on behalf of the imperial govern- ment, an invitation for the American fleet, now on the Pacific coast, to visit the principal ports of Japan
 q have the honor and pleasure to say in reply that the President. to whom [ have communicated this courteous and friendly action on the part of your gov ernment, highly appreciating this evil dence of the hearty good will of the Japanese nation, has charged me to re- quest you to inform your government that the United States is most happy to accept the invitation. It gives this gov ernment peculiar pleasure to accept bc- cause of the long existing and unbroken a friendship between the two countries and the sincere regard of the American peo~ pie for the people of Japan.
 "I regret to add however, that tho limits of time imposed by the arrange ment for the return of the fleet to the Atlantic coast of the United States will not permit visit to more than one of the ports of Japan.
 Accept. excellency. the renewed as- surance of my highest consideration.
 ROBERT BACON. Acting Secretary. His Excellency Baron kogoro Taka-