Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-21
UNITED STATES And JAPAN
TTT5H
Baron Takahira Talks of Interna-
tional Relations.
RECENT TREATY IS DISCUSSED
Diplomat Says Reclamation of Pol
icies is Only n TRANSACT
ton Between Trusted
Friends.
RECENT TREATY IS DISCUSSED

NEW YORK. Dec. N.-Comparing the
recent joint declaration by Japan and the
United States In regard to their respective
policies in the Pacific to "a transaction be-
tween trusted friends Baron Takahira,
Japanese ambassador to the United States,
In an address last night at a Lotus club
dinner given in his honor, expressed in an
unmistakable way his great qualification
that so strong a band OF union between the
two nations had been cemented.
President Frank X. Lawrence, in intro
ducing the ambassador, alluded to the re-
cent understanding as a development to be
welcomed from the American viewpoint as
insuring a continuance of the amicable re-
lations between the two countries, and also
their friendly rivalry in commerce.
Baron Takahira, after expressing appre-
citation of the compliment the club had paid
him, said:
When I lived in this city many years
age 1 used to go to the Harlem river for
fishing and I saw that the boatman always
rowed hard when the tide was against him;
speaks much when his affairs are not in
good shape. But, as things are now be-
tween the United States and japan, there
is nothing to warrant much speech-mak1ng.
l fully believe / am not mistaken when I
say that our relations are In the best pos
sible condition. / think we may say there
lSs nOLnlnB more TO De desired IN the rela-
lions of our two countries. But IL the
past Is to serve as . lesson for the future
II would be well to consider what we have
had to experience for these few years. In
these years, we have to ADMIT, we had
such a terrible time In regard to our rela-
tons as we could never have anticipated.
No DOUBT there We're some undesirable in
cidents occurring between some people of
the two countries, but they were only local
affairs and In no way to be regarded as
menacing to our traditional friendship. But
| mo much mnnFfanna uyna R1Uan m than in
some quarters and even a war clamor was
allowed to be raised in spite of the good
VIII continually existing between the two
governments. But. thanks to the sincerity
existing all the time between the two
governments, no serious consequences were
allowed TO occur that might otherwise fol-
low such circumstances.
Plain Business Transaction.
1 took the opportunity at a dinner given
in my honor on my arrival here some
months ago to declare that there is no
international transactions / can most firmly
repeat the same assertion. and add that
there Is no such word as diplomacy" as
popularity defined. The declaration of the
two governments recently adopted by the
United States and Japan in regard to their
respective policy in China and the Pacific
is a good example. 1t is simply a re-
affirmation OF what was understood be-
tween them years ago and there is prac-
clared between them. 1t is like a trans
action between trusted friends. 1t requires
no Formally to legalize the instrument.
Still, when such declaration was made be-
tween the governments of great moral
standing ike those of the United States
and Japan 1t will undouptedly have an inn
p%ortant effect, which / think is already
beginning to be felt IN many ways, and
ii is my sincere desire that the peoples OF
each country will have the same mind as
their own government in trusting that OF
the other and in doing so ! am convinced
their rights will be fully protected and
their interests largely advanced to the
mutual benefit OF the two countries.
The menu for the dinner was fancifuliy
Japanese in its decorations. outlined the
rise OF Baron rakahira in Japanese affairs
and in the world OF diplomacy. 1t took up
his career in 1879 when he was secretary
of the Japanese legation IN Washington, 1881
finding him consul general 70 New York;
1894 promoted to minister of Italy; 1895
minister TO Austria-EIungary; 1899 vice
minister for foreign affairs in the em-
psrors cabinet; 1900 minister to the United
States; 1906. one Of the Portsmouth peace