The Washington herald., 1908-03-12
The Tendency Toward Peace

The address OF Baron Takahira. the
japanese Ambassador. at the dinner OF
the Japan Society in New York, though
reminiscent OF the hands-across- -the-sea
amenities familiar in the public utter
.ances Of representatives Of foreign powers.
contains several passages of specific i'm
port regarding the pacific aspect of
Japan's foreign policy. He refers TO the
Anglo-Japanese alliance as distinctly n
peace measure, and categorically repu-
dates the idea that the compact was
entered upon with view TO the poSsi-
bility OF a conflict with the United States.
He points TO the recent agreements
reached with other European powers as
evidence Of the general tenor Of Japan's
policy. Moreover. as the Ambassador
says. the general tendency OF the world
has been to adjust, by means OF agree
ment. questions OF any Importance that
were formerly considered a stumbling
block in the path Of friendly intercourse
between the powers. and in that way 10
remove the cause OF dispute lying between
them" This is what is happening in the
case Of the United States and japan. with
every promise of a happy issue. although
no agreement may be reached. as betwee,
Japan and certain European powers. as
to territorial status in the Orient.
The pacific outlook Of the civilized
world, to which the Ambassador so aptlv
referred. is too often ignored in current
discussions Of our relations with the far
East 1t seems to be assumed that japan
is outside the world movements making
for peace. but that assumption IS Tar
from the truth. In no respect does her
foreign policy differ from that OF other
nations, whose statesmen In spite Of the
feverish war preparations everywhere
going on, continually indulge IN the most
pacific aspirations. and do. In fact en-
deavor, by every diplomatic means. TO
promote international unity and concord.
Inconsistent as national policy may seem.
both at home and abroad, in that the
loudest protestatiOns OF peaceful intent
are accompanied with the most extensive
expenditures for armed conflict. the
forces that make for peace are yearly
gaining ground. The substitution OF iu-
dicial process for the arbitrament OF the
sword Is not an idle dream II has made.
as Secretary Root said in transmitting
The Hague treaties to the Senate. sub
stantial progress since the meeting OF
the first Hague conference More i'm
portant. perhaps. than the development
OF body OF substantive and enforceable
international law IS the growth OF inter
communication and the extension 6f COM
mercial. financial. Industrial. and social
relations binding the nations together by
interests that are material and practical
instead Of merely sentimental The sun
drance of relations by war is thus a more
serious matter than il has ever been be-
fore in the worlds history.
Such considerations as these show how
mistaken are our jingoes when they think
solely in terms of international conflict
They see nothing ahead but the prospect
of war. now with this and now with
that traditional or Inevitable enemy. Yet
the prospect never has been so good for
the maintenance OF the worlds peace. nor
has the disposition Of responsible states
men ever been more strongly favorable to
the pacific composition Of international
differences. Baron Takahira has the facts
all on his side when he argues that the
world tendency is other than warlike
That war is a game wise kings should not
play al is coming more and more 10 be
recognized as a sound maxim of foreign
policy. and there is no reason to suppose,
as Baron Takahira has done well 10 re-
mind us, that japan is outside the stream
of international tendency.