Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21

Inc state Department has given out the
Japanese note inviting the United States
battleship fleet to visit Japan, and the
PRESIDENTS response accepting the invita-
ton. Inc Japanese note is as follows:
Japanese Embassy,
Washington. March Is. 1905
Sir: Under instruction from his maj
eStyS minister for foreign affairs. l 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 Fran
cisco to the Philippine Islands, are sin
cerely anxious to be afforded an oppor
tunfty to cordially welcome that maSniti-
cent fleet and to give an enthusiastic eX-
preston to the sentiment of friendship
and admiration invariably entertained by
the people of Japan toward the people of
the United States
II am further instructed to inform you
that the imperial government are firmly
convinced of the reassuring effect which
the visit of the American fleet TO the
traditional relations of good understanding
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 In
structed to call at the principal ports of
Japan in its extended cruise in the Pa
cific.
Accept, sir. the renewed assurance
OIL my highest COISluSi ctiOii-
* TAKAHIRA.
Honorable Elihu Root, Secretary of
State"
Though Secretary Root was in the city,
the reply to the Japanese note was pre-
pared by Assistant Secretary Bacon, as
follows:
Department of State,
"WaShington. March 20. 'l9S.
.'Excellency: 1 have the honor to' &C
knowledge the receipt of your valued
note of the 18th instant, by which you
are so good as to convey, on behalf OF
the imperial government, an invitation
for the American fleet now on the Pa
citic coast to visit the principal ports OF
Japan.
Il 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 approaching this evidence
of the hearty good will of the Japanese
nation, has charged me to request you
to inform your government that the
United States is most happy to accept
the invitation. 1t gives this government
peculiar pleasure to accept, because OF
the long existing and unbroken friend
ship between the two countries and the
sincere regard of the American people
for the people of Japan.
L regret to add, however, that the linn
its of time imposed by the arrangements
for the return of the fleet to the Atlantic
coast OnlCeO states Will not
a visit to more than one of the ports of
Japan.
Accept. excelency, the renewed as
surances of my highest consideration,
ROBERT BACON. Acting Secretary.
His Excellency. Baron Korogo Taxa
hira. Ambassador to Japan -
Ambassador Takahira, upon being Off
cially notified of this governments &C
ceptance of Japans invitation to the
United States to have it's fleet visit Japan,
said:
Had 1 known earlier that the battle
ship fleet was going to visit the orient,
the invitation from our government would
have been extended earlier. 1t is matter
of great satisfaction to our people to have
the battleship fleet visit Japan. The en-
peror and the people of Japan will ex-
tend hospitable welcome to the officers
and men of the fleet. I personally am
glad that the invitation has been accept
ed, as it will give the japanese people an
opportunity to show their cordial good
will toward America