The Washington times., 1908-02-17
Mikado Has No Reason
to Be Suspicious
of Fleet.
Envoy viii Make Off
cial Calls in Day
or Two.

a war between the United States and
Japan would be the most inhuman event
IN the worlds history, but il is impOs-
sible TO believe that such an event viii
ever occur. That is the opinion eX-
pIessed by Baron E7gOrO TaEahira- the
new japanese ambassador to the United
states. who arrived in Washington late
this afternoon from New York.
Raron Takahira returns here to take
up the duties, which he surrendered 40
Viscouut Aolzi In December, 1905, and ne
regards his return as a triUmphal entry
into a nation with which he is Intimate
~ acquainted The ambassador said
that he could add nothing 10 the inter
view, which he gave out ia New York
shortly after the arrival of the steamer
Etruria. To the newspaper men in that
city Baron Takahira said that II seemed
impossible for any man OF ordinary
sanity 10 think OF war between the
United states and Japan In We" OF
the sincere friendship existing DelWeSh
them Such views. he SAID, were a crime
against humanity. against ciVlhzauo1,
ana against the well-being OF manklnd
Friendship Still Exists.
During my absence from your
country" the ambassador said, "ques-
tons have arisen about the segregation
OF Japanese school children in the
Pacific Coast and about japanese m
migration. I cannot. OF course, tell you
at this moment how I viii deal with
what remains to require my attention
Yet in spite OF all the excitement and
speculation repeated from time 70 time
during the discussion Of these ques-
lions. there never has been a change
in the friendship Of the two govern
ments which has been historically es-
tablished between them. And they are
both as sincere as ever in these cor
dial relations. This IS. at least, what
/ am given TO understand, and am
going back to Washington with con-
fident belief TO find the same good
friends there that left behind me two
years ago.
''As to the voyage of the American
feet TO the Pacific, so much talked
about recently. I consider 1t purely an
American affair. I hear that there has
been an sorts OF speculation advanced
IN regard TO the motive behind such a
voyage, but 7 have always thought the
most reasonable motive we could as
sign to it was that of a naval ma
newer on a large scale.
1.-THE United States is a country Of
the most pacific intentions, as has been
we'll proved I'm its history AS we say
in our pTOverb. Don't forget war in
time Of peace, It must be necessary
even for so great a country as this 20
ascertain now and then the working
capacity of its ships and the good dis
clpline of its sailors. You viii certainly
learn a great deal from such a long
cruise and such a large force.
No Cause for Suspicion.
THE fleet is not only going TO the
Pacific coast, but at the same time Il is
passing through South American
waters And if there is anything to In
dictate that its voyage is a demonstra-
ton it must be demOnstra-
ton TO the world at large in order to
show that the United States has such
a great power to be sent out at any mo-
ment in support OF any great cause
which is at the bottom Of all American
diplomacy.
I'VE in Japan, therefore. have no Tea-
son to be suspicious about the fleet 8
visit to the Pacific You may have no
ticed that the japanese papers have
been publishing lately their desire and
intention to welcome your feet II the
sbips should come to Japan. This shows
how our. people regard this cruise.
war talk which. as I have heard.
has been published in this country IRE
duently in connection with the aeet s
sailing Is utterly uninteligible to me.
On the other side Of the Atlantic, where