The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-03
KOMU IRA OUTLINES THE
JAPAN'S FOREIGN POLICY
IN SPEECH IN THE DIET

lOhlO. feb. speaking before the
lower house of the diet today, Foreign
Minister Komura outlined the foreign
policies Of Japan in a carefully wordec
speech, delivered before a full and at
tentive house. The opening sentence
gave the keynote of the entire speech
when Count Komura said:
The foreign policy of this en-
pre- should have as. an object the
maintenance of peace and the de-
velopment of national resources.
The foreign minister dwelt at length
upon the relations between Japan anc
America. He said:
The friendship of Japan and the
United States is traditional, and it
is absolutely essential that both
maintain unimpaired those senti-
ments Of amity and extend and
strengthen them by every means.
Notwithstanding the perfect accord
which has always existed regard
ing the aims OF the two countries
in the far east and in the Pacific,
it appears that doubts have been
entertained in some quarters con-
corning the sincerity of the inten-
lions.
In order to remove this misun-
Outstanding the two governments
have deemed il advisable to ex-
change diplomatic notes, officially
announcing a common policy, which
l am convinced will be largely in
strumental in preserving the re-
pose of the orient.
With regard to the question of
legislation unfaVorable to the
japanese now pending in Califor-
MIA. the imperial government is
relying on the sense Of justice of
the American people. together with
the friendly disposition of the fed
eral government. and is conhdent
that the question will not lead to
international complications.
Japan, therefore. being on cor
dial terms with all the powers. in
GLIDING those who have not been
mentioned. it must be admitted
that the maintenance of peace.
which is the one principal object
tically assured, and we are en-
abled TO devote our endeavors to
the development of our national
resources. The first point claim
Ing our attention is the problem of
In view of the new international
conditions assigned to Japan: 1t
has become necessary that our peo-
Pile instead Of scattering in for
eign lands, shall concentrate in the
far east, thus securing united
effort looking to legitimate ac-
tivities and avoiding everything
likely to obstruct the development
of International commerce and in
dustry.
the government to follow an
avowed policy with respect TO emf,
grants to Canada and the United
States enforcing in perfect good
faith the restrictions placed on
emigration
Count Komura concluded his speech
nv announcing that the imperial gov
eminent had decided to notify the va
ri6us powers next year of the termina
ton of existing commercial treaties
to he effective one year after such no
tice was given. He said that 1t wa!
The intention of the government to ne
gotiate new treaties "unhampered d!
any unequal engagements.
The new compacts, he said. will bt
based entirely on the principle of reel
procitv with view to the free deYel
opment of international commerce.
In beginning his address Count Ko-
rnu-a reviewed the relations of Japar
with nations other than the United
States.
With reference to Great Britain, hi
said that events of far reaching i'm
portance in the relations of the TIVE
countries with other powers happil,
and uniformly contributed to the con
solidation of the general peace of east
ern Asia. which was one OF the prin
cipal objects Of the agreement. Thu
alliance, he continued. had steadil.
gained strength and solidity, and to
dav stands on an enduring foundation
The relations of Japan with Russia
he went on, were constantly increas
ing in intimacy and both nations wer'
scrupuIously observing the spirit ans
letter of the compact governing Their
attitude in-the Pacific, while the poll
cies of both governments were yielding
monentous results. Thus. in his opin
ion. there was every reason to expec
an increasing growth of friendly senti
ments between them
The foreign minister's speech was re
ceived with applause by the govern
mcnt side of the house, but Count Hat
tori. an opposition member. immedi
ately began a bitter sensational attach
on the foreign policy of the govern
ment He said that japan had no de
termined foreign policies and that tint
was shown by her present attitude
toward America. where japanese wer.
denied an equal opportunity and wer.
even abused by Americans. The recen
events, he said, had proved that tn,
anti-Japanese sentiment in America
had not subsidized. The speaker attacked
particularly the recently concluded
agreement between Japan and America
saying he believed the Japanese for
eign Office was forced by the American
government to sign the agreement il