Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

organize and combine to fight the white
ones?'
The yellow peril said Prince Ito. Is
the most spectacular chimera that mas
ever been brought forth by the diseased
imagination of the sensational new 9paper;
/ believe they call it the yellow Journai
in your country. The idea Is an.
s,Ird Upon what basis could 'uTre "e
such a combination? Take the matter OF
religion Buddhist faith. which is general
" held in Japan and also largely III
China, is far more liberal than the CHRIS
tan When We adopted our constitui
we proclaimed freedom for all relglons
and we still allow every man to think ana
believe for himself. You can never MAKE
a military combination of nations or nsht
a war on any such basis. we couid not
combine against you on the Grouhu vi
religion.
."Then there is the matter of color. We
NAV nat like a man for his compleNlon
but nations do not make war on sucti
grounds Besides. color is not national
distinction. We people nave diheleIi.
skins from you. but We have the Same
wants and are moving along the same
lines of Intellectual life. Ihere IS no
ground for war there.
TASTY. there is the matter Of trade.
That belongs to the. field OF the pocset-
hook. and is more connected with the IN
diyidual than with the nation AT large.
War will not make people buy your
goods and the moment the individuals or
. nation find It is to their injury to sus-
mend their relations with other nations
tbov will object The west and the east
are bound together alcrs trade INES anu
II is supremely ridiculous TO t;tlk OF
wholesale conflict between them.
How about this alliance wh1ch is
said to be forming between emma dhu
the United States?'
Il don't think there is anything III
it; for the very reasons l have men
toned. The Chinese will trade with
the United States just as much ana
as long as it pays them financially. TO
do so. When 1t does not pay. tneir
business will go elsewhere. Besides.
what could China contribute TO an al
lance offensive and defensive. Nothing
in her present situation. and nothing
for wears to come 1 cannot think that
the United States would be so foolish
as to think of a combination where 1t
would have to give all and receive 50
little.
toward the United States. your high
neSS?"
1T is friendly and have ne doubt
hut that it will continue so. There
have been some little unpleasant
things about the treatment of our I'M
migrants and of our children in the
schools of your Pacific slope. but they
will not affect the friendship of the
two nations. AS to Japan wanting ID
make war with your country, that is
ridiculous. There is no such sentiment
among our people. Besides. We are
small country. with comparatively lit
tie wealth Your country is great in
size and its resources are enormous
You have vast areas of the most fer
tile soil. the riches of Your mines are
in,alculable and your people are many
Why should Japan seek to enter into Il
struggle with you?
Desides, our country has always
looked upon you as its best friend. We
have been associated together for years
In the closest relations in the family.
of nations and have never had a dis
agreement. We appreciate your friend
ship of the past and we shall recipro~
cate IL whenever we can.
As far as I myself am concerned"
Prince Ito continued. II wish to exp -ess
my kind regard for your people and your
government They have ben good to me-
in the past. and 1 owe them much. l
visited your country years ago to study
your financial system. | then spent six
months there and during d great part Of
that time was in Washington. y. &. That
was when Gen. Grant was President and
Mr. Boutwell, Secretary OF the Treasury
Cen. Grant very kind And SECRETARY