New-York tribune., 1908-09-02
FRIENDSHIP FOR JAPAN
II "MYSTERY" EXPLAINED.
President Writes on Postponement
of Toxic Exposition.


garding the cause of the visit to President
Roosevelt last Saturday by Baron Kogoro
Takahira japanese Ambassador to the United
States. and of his visit to Secretary Root. at
Clinton, n. Y seems TO be explained In let
ter made public by the Presidents secretary to-
night. The letter is addressed to the Secretary
of State and in it the President calls the at
tention of Mr.. Root to the fact that the Japan
exposition is to be postponed from 1917 to
1917. He tells the Secretary that if any action
the part Of this government is neeoed TO
accommodate the preparations of the onlteo
States TO the change in date he will bring it
to the attention of Congress when IL reassern-
bles- The President says there is peculiar fit
ness in holding the exposition in 1917, when
the Emperor of Japan will celebrate the M
tieth anniversary of his accession to the throne
He says the japanese government SHOWS souho
Judgment in changing the date so as to permit
the exposition to be made a credit to Japan
He also says that the people OF the Onlteo
States hold a peculiar feeling OF regard ana
friendship for Japan and that no other nauon
Is more anxious than the United states 10 help
make the exposition a success in every way. The
letter follows:
Oyster Bay, September 1, 1908.
NV Dear Mr. Secretary: The japanese gov
ernment has as you aware, intormauy an.
nounced TO our government the
If will be found advisable to defer the exposItlol
until the year 1917 the year in Whlcn VIII pe
celebrated the f1ftieth anniversary OF the acces
sion of his majesty the Emperor; and unoer-
stand that the formal announcement VIII Sooii
follow. t.,.,
The reasons given for deferring the exposition
are controlling and will not only meet universal
approval, but show a sound judgment Whlcn Is
in itself a guarantee CT the success or the eA-
position when it is ultimately held The Japan pam
ese government finds that the present date
makes the time too short to permit Of the eH1
position being made what it ought to ana VIII VIII
be made, while the expense entalled IN trying
to accomplish too much in too little time would
be wastefuly large. Moreover, there is a pecu-
liar fitness in holding the exposition to marx
the closing Of half century of the reign OF MS
majesty the Emperor; for that half century mas
seen Japan stride forward to the position OF a
world power of the first class with sureness
and rapidty literally unexampled in all previous
This the first great international exposition
ever held in Asia must be of kind which will
fully meet the requirements of so great an occa-
sion; and ample time should be taken Inc
people of the United States hold for Japan
peculiar feeling Of regard and friendship and
no other nation Is more anxious than we are TO
help make the exposition success In every
wav When Congress reassembles, If any action
on the part OF the United States is needed 10
accommodate our preparations to the change IN
date. will bring this matter to Its attention.
The preliminary appropriation has already been
made and commission appointed; nothing
has occurred except that the date when the eH.
position is to be held has been deferred: and 1t
merely gives us what really needed longer
time in which to determine upon the scope OF
pian and to make the necessary pIepdI dtiouS
for the participation which Congress has already
p-O'-N'1 THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The Hon. E1ihu Root, the Secretary of State
Washington. Sept IN Adee, the Acting
Secretary of State. said tonight in issuing
statement announcing the postponement or the
Toxic exposition from 1912 to 1917. that the
Japanese Ambassadors visits to the President
and Secretary Root were purely Informal and
were for the sole purpose of obtaining the ap-
provai by the United States government of the
postponennent of the Japanese worlds fair The
possibility of q Chfnese-American alliance and
the visit Of the American battleship feet to Jap
anese waters not discussed. Following is
the statement:
The government of Japan announces the post
ponement of the Toxic exposition until 1917.
This course has been taken after full consulta-
ton with the government of the United States,
which heartily approves the poStponement
Since the original proposal of the exposition.
its plans and scope have been expanded greatly
and the time originally allowed, of which only
three and onehalf years remain. is plainly insult
fclent to make ready the grounds, design and
erect the buildings, prepare and install the ex-
hibits, provide suitable accommodations for the
public, and make the exposition what Japan
wishes 1t TO be and what it must be to ftly rep
resent that great and progressive people. Inc
additional time will be very useful to the United
States in preparing for its participation in the
exposition under the law passed by Congress at
the last session.
The time now fixed for the exposition is most
appropriately selected to mark the ftueth ami
versary of the accession of his majesty the En-
peror of Japan. The people of the United States
people of Japan by joining in their celebration of
that happy occasion