The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-05
AOKI PRAISES
 ALL AMERICA Jap Ambassador Enter tained in Frisco. DENIES PUBLISHED INTERVIEW Feeling of the Friendliest Character
 Are Expressed. The viscount Says Japan wants Peace wlth America Now And Always.
 wnl sail For Home
 Tuesday.

request, in an interview with the As- sociated Press tonight denied the statement attributed to him in an ai- legged interview last night in which he was quoted as saying:
 Japan is restricting the emigration of laborers to this country and will continue to do so, and that it would be regarded as offensive to the dignity of Japan for this country to pass an exclusion law or endeavor to embody ,sthe subject in treaty.
 such a statement did not eminate from me-" emphaticaily declared the Ambassador In German, a language with which he is much more familiar than with English, T did not talk with any newspaper men last night nor did I authorize any one to speak for me, much less make any state ment. Furthermore, l have not dis- cussed the emigration question with any one since left Washington, nor have I anything to add to my farewell statement made by me to the American people through the Associated Press prior to my departure. am return ing to Japan after a long absence to confer with my governYent upon vari- ous matters and convsy to the Elm peror the best wishes and expressions of friendship from President Roose- welt, and I believe the American peo- pie.
 Friendly Attitude.
 s'The attitude of Japan toward this country Is of the frtendliest charc- acter, but the immigration question and other matters of policy between the two countries are for statesmen and diplomats and cannot be so freely discussed in public"
 Being able to express himself read iiy in German, the Ambassador talked at length upon various topics, but declined to discuss the Van Couver race trouble, the immigration question in general or comment upon the trans fer of the battleship fleet from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. He laughed heartily when shown de- spatch from Paris which stated that the Japanese fleet had disappeared from it's customary cruising ground and was reported to be in the vicinity of Hawaii.
 At1a luncheon given this afternoon .,by the trustees of the local Chamber 4of Commerce, Viscount Aoki, Consul General Chczo Kioke and Vice Consul Matsurbara were the guests of honor. c. H. Bentley president of the Chamber of Commerce introducing Wis., count Aokis touched upon the labor riots and anti-Japanese feeling. He Oppressed gratitude that the govern
  posed of men who were not to be de- sceived by the exhibition of rioting and disorder by lawless elements and de- cIared that this was not typical of the feeling of the people of San Francisco toward Japanese, much less than that of the American people as a whole. Ambassador Aoki in response said that the debt of gratitude of Japan to America was so great that no isolated cases of complaint could ever dissi- pate 1t and re-eoched friendly as- surance the Emperor of Japan Is re- ported to have sent to President Roose- welt through Secretary of War Taft. Japan wants peace with America" 1" he added. now and always and she - will omit no efort to make that desire a reality"
 X, Viscount- Oaki said: During my sA brief but happy stay in the United States I have had many opportunities of seeing that which I conceive to be tho best and greatest in the American people. I have marveled at your ener- , gy. at your practical methods of do- : ing things. at your wealth and Ahe svastness of your material resources. Spirit of Unity.
 : ) But what has impressed me most, ,,. [, think, is the spirit of practical unity Which holds your people together over ' 20 vast a territory and such a variety
 
 there is no such homogeniety on so iarge 8 scale anywhere else in the Ikorld. One great purpose appears to S animate in the American people and
 tt Is to pull together for the up-
 ldtng of the national greatness. .cRt spirit which takes many forms , If expression, I find to be the same in "a 4eW York and San Francisco and ,l f everywhere 1t is characterized by frankness and fairplay. Your people believe in the doctrine of live and let live and that Is not only because you have learned from experience that such a course Is the best policy, but be- cause you are naturally generous.
 gro the extent that this spirit has been extended to our people and coun- try, I am prepared to bear cheerfully and grateful testimony. From your distinguished President down to the humblest citizen, I have discovered no disposition to be other than wise, just and helpful My country has been made to feel that the friendliness of America so often and in so many ef- fective ways during the last fifty years, that a great debt of gratitude has grown up on our part which no mere local furry or isolated cause of complaint can dissipate.
 Tt Is pleasant for me to be able to assure you of these things just as l sail from your shores and after so pleasant a sojourn in your midst and l feel freer to speak the honest dic- tates of my heart in this regard be- cause of the recent friendly assurances reported to have been sent by my gracious sovereign through Secretary Taft to your great President. Japan wants peace with American naw and always and she will omit no effort to make that desire a reality; I am con vinced that America reciprocates that good will and shall bear that report across the ocean.
 Ministers of Peace.
 You gentlemen of the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco are the real ministers of peace and inter- national comity You stand for that upon which the most lasting good will is based Your mission is trade, indus try, commerce and the development of natures resources. It follows as night from day, that from these must come friendship, mutual understanding and kindly good will. Japan and America need each other and that need will grow stronger with the years. They have a thousand interests in common and not one rational ground for serious difference. Let me leave you gentle men with the assurance that the spirit which has prompted you to extend this delicate courtesy to me as an in- A.. .l.a-u znd rkan