The state herald., 1908-02-21
WAR WOULD Be
TOO |NHUMAN
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR COMES
WITH A MESSAGE
OF PEACE.
JAPAN STILL FRIENDLY
WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES
TOO HELLISH TO BE
THOUGHT OF.

NEW YORK, Feb. l6-Declaring
that war between the United States
and Japan would be the most in
human event in the worlds history
and 100 hellish" to be thought of,
BCron Kogoro Takahira, the new Jap
aneso ambassador to Washington. said
Sunday. upon landing in New York
from the steamer Etruria that the
japanese people know absolutely
nothing of n break ii the cordial re-
latiOns which have been historic be-
tween the two nations. Talk of war,
Baron Takahira declared with much
emphasis. was utterly unintelligible 10
him, unless, as some one had sug-
gusted, II was spread broadcast to
serve the commercial ends OF some
newspapers.
The new ambassador said there
might ne some matters pending in
Washington which would require his
attention, but they We're not serious.
As 10 the cruise Of the American fleet
TO the Pacific ocean, he regarded II
purely as a naval maneuver ON
grand scale-designed to show to the
world at large that America has a won
derful naval power which eau be dis
patched anywhere at moments no
tice lin support of u Legitimate cause,
which always is at the bottom OF
American diplomacy"
lie Is a warm, personal friend of Mr..
Roosevelt. and is looking forward to
his meeting with the chief executive
with great deal OF pleasure. The
baron is returning to the American
capital after an absence OF two years
spent In Rome as ambassador to Italy.
The baron left Washington as minister
and was subsequently elevated to the
rank Of ambassador. lie was one OF
Jgpan's ENJOYS at the Portsmouth
peace conference.
Il am pleased to come back TO this
country in my present capacity said
Baron Takahira 10 a representative of
the Associated Press. Il started my
diplomatic career as an attache at
our legatiCn In Washington some 80
years ago and have always regarded
that city as my cradle. Now | am
going back there ms the personal rep
/ resentatlye of the japanese emperor
I
OF the United States and think
can consider II as the triumphnl entry
into that city.
Il know there were some questions
arising after / left-abGut the segre
CATION of Japanese children IN some OF
the schools OF The Pacific coast nnd OF
japanese immigration. ! cannot OF
COURSE, tell you ut this moment how
will have 10 deal with what remains
to require my a:tentlon nj Washing
ton.
As to the voyage Of the American
I feet TO he Pacific so much talked OF
recently, | consider It purely an Amer
lean affair. hear there has been all
sorts Of speculation as to the motives
OF such a voyage. ! always thought
that the most reasonable one We can
attribute f. naval manouvcr ON a
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 u must be
necessary even for such great eoun'
try as this to ascertain now and then
the working capacity OF It's ships and
the good discipline Of its men.
we nave intfflhfft nh lfhHhh ~
be suspicious about the VISIT Of the
ships % the Pacific. You may have
noticed that the Japanese newspapers
have been publishing lately their de
cree or direction Of welcome to your
feet II n should come 10 Japan, Thih
shows how our people regard the
cruise.
"War talk which ! hear has been
published frequently In correction with
the cruise ~ utterly unintelllglble to
me. You know II IN well said by your
famous general that war Is hell II
IN now concurrent opinion among
the best military experts Of all the
great powers that war IL more helllsh
than n used to be. owing 10 the great
sciOniinc improvements which are con
stnnily being applied 10 man.alaughter'
lnr machines II Is impossible IN my
opinion 90 nny man Of ordinary sanity
tn think II n war between two powers
/ like ours. In Wow Of tho sincere friend
shin which 10 long has actually cN'
listed between them. To think Of II
" crime against humanity against
civilization. anElnHt the well being Of
the whole Of mankind. Such a war,
IL ever fought. would bo tho most In
human event In tho worlds history,
our people NJ least do not think Of the
possibility ~ such nm unfortunate