The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-11
Baron Takahira Voices Ssnti-
 nent of His County
MIKAD0 IS 4 SINCERE MAN
Japan's Ambassador Speaks at a Ban- quet In New York and His Felicis-
 ous Words Call Forth Long
 and Hearty Applause.

New York, March 10-with declara- tions that there are now between the
 United States and Japan no questions of
 any magnitude likely to remain unset
 tied much longer and that any questions arising in the future will be brought to
 satisfactory conclusions by the spirit of friendship existing between the two coun-
 tries. Baron Korogo Takahira, Japanese ambassador, called forth prolonged cheers
 tonight at the banquet at the Hotel As
 tor, rendered in his honor by the Japan
 society of New York. The Japanese
 ambassador was speaking of the recent agitation regarding the Japanese immi-
 grafton question and his words spoken before the society formed to promote
 friendly relations between the two coun-
 tries were taken as a prophecy of con-
 tinued peace in the Pacific.
 Touching upon the question of Japanese affairs, MT. Takahira said the Emperor
 is the same person-large- minded and
 far-sighted, always eager for the happi-
 ness and prosperity of his subjects, and at the same time equally sincere in his
 desire for the well-being and good care
 of all other peoples.
 Japan's enlarged sphere of influence by
 no means, said the ambassador. neces-
 sitated any change in the general policy
 or the empire. Japans aim and pur-
 poses as nation are always the same British Treaty.
 "The only difference you have noticed in the position in Japan is the forming of a race coalition with our neighbor- ing countries. As it was then suspect
 ed in some quarters, Japan has entered into a treaty of political inter-depend- 1 ence with a nation of your kindred race and of the same creed. I mean of course Great Britain, our honored ally. But this treaty was concluded purely
 and simply to secure the peace, and. therefore, the prosperity of the far east.
 It has no ulterior motives against any na-
 ton, much less against the United States. with whom we have the historical rela-
 tions of friendship and sympathy invari-
 ably maintained since the beginning of our diplomatic intercourse. In spite of all that however, I have heard quite often inquiries made in certain quarters as to the extent of applicability of that
 treaty in case of a conflict between the
 United States and Japan. I am, of course
 not in position to define the scope of that compact, but I can assure you that we never had any thought of making even mere inquiries on such subject. We are perfectly satisfied with the real object of that treaty, which is, as I said be- fore, an entirely specific nature" Cordial Friendship.
 Japan has no compact of like nature with the United States. the ambassador added, but her friendship has, been al- ways so cordial that some one called it the ''unwritten alliance" He then touched upon the late agitation regar sing the immigration question, concluding as follows:
 q am now pleased to be able to say
 that while we have to maintain our rights in all respects there are now between the
 United States and Japan no questions of
 any magnitude likely to remain unsettled much longer This is at once the result of the exertion of such friendly senti-
 ment between the two governments as
 have just mentioned, and am firmly con-
 vinced that if there are any other ques-
 tions that may arise hereafter to occupy
 the minds of the public men of the two
 countries. it will be that sincerity of
 friendship that will exercise the power
 to bring about their satisfactory conclu
 Sion.''