The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
NO WAR, SAYS TAFT
Speaks at Ohio Society Din.
ner in Philadelphia.
JOKES ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY
Secretary's Address Is Marked by
Careful Diplomacy-DecIare that
Trouble with Japan Is Not Prob
able Because of Trade Relations.
treat Hopes for the 0aient.

Philadelphia, Jan 14-That the sailing
Of the United States fleet to the Pacific
is not a threat 10 any nation. but that
it has already fulfilled its mission in con.
vincing the Orient that this country is
ever ready for emergencies, was declared
by William H. Taft Secretary Of War
in notable address delivered at the an
nual banquet Of the Ohio Society to-
night
Quickly supplemenung his statement
the Secretary made this assertion:
The idea that We are going 10 war
with Japan is utterly absurd. There is no
reason for us to so to war with Japan.
and there is no reason why she should
50 to war with US"
Finally, summing up his observations
on his trip around the world, his diplo-
matte invasion Of China and Japan, the
Secretary declared
Japan does not want to 90 to war
with US, and we do Tot want 10 go 10
war with Japan"
speech Was Diplomatic.
Viewed from every standpoint, Mr..
Tafts address was diplomatic. His only
reference 10 his candidacy for the Pres
idency was made in a jocular vein, and
he expressed the hope that he wa not
treading upon anybody's toes.
The immense ballroom of the Bellevue
StTatford, where the BANQUET was he'd
was filled with the sons and former sons
OF Ohio. The balconies of the ballroom
were crowded with the daughters and for
mer daughters of Ohio. and the wives Of
the sons of Ohio.
Mr.. Taft said in part:
We have reached a point now where
We have become interested in foreign
trade, in the trade in the country at
large outside. We think we are cosmo-
politan by venture. therefore. to 20
further West than Ohio, and talk of what
we should do OF how much consideration
we ought to give to the trade of the
Orient
There is no doubt in nay mind that de-
velopment of the next fifty years is TO
take place. partly in the tropics and
partly in the Orient And the question
which We have TO determine is whether
We are going to share in that develop
ment. The marvellous growth of Japan.
both as a wariike country and as an
industrial country, I need not dwell upon
lit is known to all
The suggestion that We are going to
war with Japan is. Of course. utterly
absurd. There is no reason for us going
to war with her, and there is no reason
for her going TO war with us. She does
not want to go to war, and we do not
want to go TO war, and under those cir
I should Ike to know how
we can possibly be brought into conflict
I am not speaking in general terms.
Talks on Authority.
Il am speaking from Information have
received at first hand on my visit The
opportunity that I had to converse with
the leading men OF Japan, to read their
newspaper Through interpreters to test
the sense of the people. the feeling Of the
people, enables me to be emphatis as pos
sible in such a statement.
Japan has a large export trade, upon
which she is dependent, and of that one
third at least. is with the United States.
That export trade is a trade in things
which concerns a great many different
small storekeepers and skilled artisans
and they are intelligent enough to know
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