The Ordway new era., 1908-02-21
war WOULD Be
TOO |NHUMAN
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR COMES
WITH A MESSAGE
OF PEACE.
JAPAN STILL FRIENDLY
WAX WITH THE UNITED STATES
TOO HELLISH TO BE
THOUGHT OF.

NEW YORK. Feb. 1G.-Declorinp
thal war between tho IJnitod St,tos
ana japan would be the most in.
human event in the worlds history"
ana LOO hellish" to be thought of
bHron koeoro Takahira, the new Ian.
aheS' ambassador to Washington. said
SGhdhy. upon landing in New York
from The steamer Elruriu that the
Japanese people know absolutely
nothing OF break l.. the cordial re-
i"'ohs which have been historic be-
tween The two nations. Talk of war.
BAion Takahirn declared with much
emphasis. was utterly unintclligible 10
MN. unless, as some one had sug-
- 'St'd 1t was spread broadcast TO
s"T\" the commercial ends OF some
newspapers.
The new ambassador said there
might =" some matters pending in
Washington which would require his
alt' ni'on. but they were not serious
As To tn. cruise OF the American fleet
To the Pacific ocean. he regarded IL
purely as IA naval maneuvcr on IA
grand scale-designed to show to the
world M large thar America has won.
deriul naval power which can be dis.
pate anywhere at Il moments no
iice in support of n Legitimate cause.
which always is at the bottom OF
American diplomacy"
II" Is 4 warm. personal friend of Mr..
Roosevelt. and is looking forward to
his meeting with the chief executive
with a great deal OF pleasure. The
baron is returning to the American
capital after an absence of Two years
Spcut in Rome rs ambassador to Italy.
The baron left Washington AZ minister
and w"s subsequently elevated to the
rank Of ambassador lie was one OF
JIpHn's cnvoys at the Portsmouth
peace conference.
Il am pleased to come back TO this
country In my present capacity" said
Baron Takahira 10 representative of
the Associated Press. Il started my
diplomatic career as an attache at
our lo"a:iOn in Washington some 80
years ago and have always regarded
that city rs my cradle. Now | am
gOin'; back there ms the personal rep.
rcs"ntatlac of the Japanese emperor,
accredited TO the President Of the
Of tho United States and ! think |
can consider 1t as the triumphal entry
into that city.
Il knox there were some questions
arising after | lcft-ab9ut the segre-
cation of Japanese children In some OF
the schools o: the Pacific coast and OF
Japanese immigration. | cannot, OF
cuurHc. tell you at this moment how
will have To deal with what remains
to require my attention at Washing
ton.
AS to the voyage of the American
fleet TO he Pacific so much talked OF
recently. | consider 1t purely an Amer
lean affair. | hear there has been all
sorts of speculation as to the motives
of such u voyage always thought
that the most reasonable one we can
attribute is naval maneuvcr on
grand scale. The United States Is
country %. the most pacific intentions
as has been well proved by history.
As we say in our proverb. Don't FOR
get war in time of peace 1t must be
necessary even for such great coun-
try as this to ascertain now and then
the working capacity of its ships and
the good discipline of its men.
We have. therefore. no reason TO
be suspicious about the visit of the
ships to the Pacific. You may have
noticed that the Japanese newspapers
have been publishing lately their de
cree or direction of welcome to your
fleet If 1t should come to Japan. This
shows how our people regard the
cruise.
War talk which hear has been
published frequently in conection with
the cruise is utterly unintelligible to
me. You know 1t is well said by your
famous general that war is hell 1t
is now n concurrent opinion among
the best military experts OF all the
great powers that war is more hellish
than Il used to be. owing to the great
scientific improvements which are con-
stantly being applied to man.slaughter-
ing machines 1t is impossible In my
opipion to any man of ordinary sanity
to think Of war between two powers
like ours. in view of the sincere friend
shin which 50 long has actually ex.
listed between them. To think OF 1t
is n crime against humanity, against
civilization. aaginst the well being OF
the whole of mankind. Such war,
II ever fought. would be the most in
human event in the worlds history.
Our people mt least do not think of the
of such an unfortunate