The Holly chieftain., 1908-02-21
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR COMES
WITH A MESSAGE
OF PEACE.
JAPAN STILL FRIENDLY
WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES
TOO HELLlSH TO BE
THOUGHT OF.


that war between the United States
and Japan would be the most in
human event In the worlds history"
and TOO hellish" to be thought OF,
Baron Kogoro Takahira. the new jap
anese ambassador to Washington. said
Sunday, upon landing in New York
from the steamer Etruria that the
Japanese people know absolutely
nothing OF break in the cordial re-
lations which have been historic be-
tween the two nations. Talk of war,
Baron Takahira declared with much
emphasis, was utterly unintelligible to
him. unless, as some one had sug-
Kested, IL was spread broadcast to
serve the commercial ends of some
newspapers.
The new ambassador said there
might tie some matters pending III
Washington which would require his
attention, but they were not serious.
As to the cruise of the American fleet
to the Pacific ocean, he regarded it
purely as naval maneuver on
grand scale-designed to show to the
world at large that America has won
derful naval power which can be dis
patched anywhere at q moments no
tice "in support OF legitimate cause.
which always Is at the bottom OF
American diplomacy"
He is warm, personal friend OF Mr..
Roosevelt, and Is looking forward to
his meeting with the chief executive
with great deal of pleasure. The
baron Is returning to the American
capital after an absence Of two years
spent in Rome as ambassador to Italy.
The baron left Washington as minister
and was subsequently elevated to the
rank OF ambassador. He was one OF
.Japan's ENJOYS at the Portsmouth
peace conference.
II am pleased to come back to this
country in my present capacity" said
Baron Takahira TO representative OF
the Associated Press. 81 started my
diplomatic career as an attache at
our legation In Washington some 30
years ago and have always regarded
that city as my cradle. Now l am
going back there as the personal rep
resentatiye of the Japanese emperor.
accredited to the President of the
Of the United States and 1 think
can consider it as the triumphal entry
Into that city.
Il know there were some questions
arising after l left-about the segre-
cation of Japanese children in some OF
the schools Of the Pacific coast and OF
Japanese immigration. l cannot, OF
course, tell you at this moment how
I will have to deal with what remains
to require my attention at Washing.
ton.
"As to the voyage of the American
heet to the Pacific 80 much talked OF
recently, I consider 1t purely an Amer.
lean affair. hear there has been oil
sorts of speculation as to the motives
of such a voyage. l always thought
that the most reasonable one We can
attribute is a naval maneuver on a
grand scale. The United States is a
country OF the most pacific Intentions
as has been we'll proved by history.
AS we say in our proverb, Don't for.
get war In time Of peace 1t must be
necessary even for such a great coun.
try as this to ascertain now and then
the working capacity Of its ships and
the good discipline Of Its men.
I'VE have. therefore, no reason to
be suspicious about the visit Of the
ships to the Pacific. You may have
noticed that the Japanese newspapers
have been publishing lately their de.
cree or direction OF welcome TO your
feet If 1t should come to Japan. This
shows how our people regard the
cruise.
"War talk which hear has been
published frequently in connection with
the cruise is utterly unintelligible to
me. You know 1t is well said by your
famous general that war is hell II
is now concurrent opinion among
the best military experts of all the
great powers that war is more hellish
than 1t used to be, owing to the great
scientific improvements which are con.
astantly being applied to man-slaughter.
ing machines. 1t is impossible In my
topinion to any man OF ordinary sanity
to think CT a war between two powers
like ours. In view of the sincere friend
ship which 80 long has actually ex
listed between them. To think OF l,
Is a crime against humanity. against
civilization. aaginst the we'll being Of
the whole OF mankind. Such a war
II ever fought. would be the most in
human event in the worlds history
Our people at least do not think Of the
possibility Of such an unfortunate
event"