Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-22
ATTITUDE OF JAPAN
Policy Toward Its Neighbors
Explained by Takahira.
PREVENTION OF DISPUTES
Step in Advance of international
Arbitration.
INTERNAL UNREST OF NATIONS
Less Modern or Less Organized
States Present Most frequently
Cause for Public Anxiety.
INTERNAL UNREST OF NATIONS

LAKE MoHONk, n. Y. May u
BARON Kogoro Takahira. the japanese
ambassador to the United States. dis
cussed Japan's attitude in the orient. in
addressing the Lake Mohonk conference
on international arbitration here this
afternoon. l.
K feel highly gratified to be able to
meet you here today" said the ambassa-
dor in beginning his address. because all
of Won are devoted to the lofty cause OF
peace and welfare for all mankind. and
are working so indefatigabIy to attain
that desirable end.
From the tenor of the invitation and
the letters which received from the pro-
motors of your conference and the friends
of it / presume you are expecting me to
say something unusually interesting to
YOU. Perhaps you may may have enter
tanned such expectation owing to the
unique position Japan occupies IN the Iar
east, but she is only young MEMBER OF
the international community eager 10
learn the best means and the ways OF the
older sisterA and to adopt them as much
as possible in order to assimilate herself
to the recognized method of modern lie
l have. therefore, not much TO add 10
what must be already in your minds. and
I am afraid l will have to greatly disap-
point you in your expectations.
Settlement of Disputes.
I'm regard to arbitration. each year
shows a steady advance in this movement
to perpetuate peace, and each year Wit
nesses an increase in the number of its
advocates Arbitration is considered a
practical means to bring about the AMIGA
BILE settlement of international disputes,
and in that way preserve friendly rela-
tons between nations.
You are certainly aware that since
many years Japan has been party to
this method of adjustment of international
differences. When. therefore. the Ameri-
can government took the initiative to con-
clude arbitration conventions with the
| powers Japan promptly accepted its pro-
posals. l do not know that the conven-
| tons of this character exactly accord
| with your ideas.
AT all events you can see from the at
| the progress of civilization the feeling of
trust and confidence among the nations
has been gradually promoted. the moral
sense of duty advanced and the danger
| of international complications proportion
ately lessened. This is step forward in
| the direction at which you are aiming.
and l hope you may feel repaid for your
undertaking. 1t is needless TO say that
| the United States has distinguished itself
| in the foreign policy by a high policy of
| justice and fair play. and yet with such
| a power, strong and civilized. as the prime
mover nothing further could he accom-
plished than what has been done.
Preventing Disputes.
1T seems desirable. therefore. that not
| only an amicable method of adjusting in
| ternational disputes. but also means to
prevent such disputes should be consid-
cred and adopted if possible. Undoubted-
| ly it is much more difficult to devise such
| a measure through a mutual understand
| ing between nations. 1t is perhaps i'm
possible but If the moral sense of duty
| among the nations advances with the
| progress of civilization it appears not en-
| tirely hopeless to attain such an end in
some way.
"A careful study of international dis
putes establishes. II seems to me. that
| they arise almost as much. if not more.
| from the internal conditions of the coun-
| try affected they do from the conflict
/ of outside interests: and il IS 4 peculiar
| feature of such questions that where they
| occur there are almost always signs OF
| disorder. retrogression misgovernment
In this respect political observation
| somewhat resembles meteorological OBJ
| seryatiOnS. The rain comes down from
where there are clouds. International dis
| putes develop where there are undesira BILE
conditions of life. such as have just men
| toned. l do not of course mean to say
| that the less modern or the less organized
states are in the wrong in all international
| questions. On the contrary. there are
cases in which such countries deserve sin
| cere sympathy. but it is an undeniable
| fact that the less modern or the less or
ganized states present more frequently
cause of public anxiety on account of
international disputes. and it may be rea-
| sonably questioned whether the unsettled
condition they present-poitically. eco
| romically or otherwise-does not lead to
| such disputes.
Action Forced on Japan.