Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-16

Special Correspondence.
TVOKIO Japan have just rc-
turned FROM ap interview with
Prince Yamagata. ONE off tho
greatest generals aud statesmen
OF The past holf century. What Won
Moltlo was to Germany and Grant to
the United states. Prince Yamag1ta
has been to Japan. 600 many respects
he has been oven more Hc was pfac
tlcouy tho originator of tho japanese
army the man whose organizing mih
inry ability has made DO one of Che
most formidable nighttime machines ni
the world THE story of his lfc has
been wrapped mp In the now Japan.
and DC and Prince ITO and ono ur Two
others arc aU that now remain OF tne
links which bind the OLD foudal times
o. the up-to-datc live activities NJ our
western civilization
PRINCE YAMAGATA is 1909
IL was at his home m the suburbs
ovcflookug Toxic that Iurt Gcu.
Yamagat8 by appointment lhis morn.
inc My audience had been arranged
through letters OF introduction ifonl
Baron Takahira tho Japanese amhas-
sador az Washington. and his highness
was ready t0 receive me. His son-in-
law. Mr. ShuiChi Hagiwara. acted as
Interpreter. and for an hour the famous
general talked most interestingly about
army matters and Of the position which
Japan now holds to the rest OF the
world.
but before 7 give you the Interview
let me tell YOU something about how
this great japanese general looks. ana
q bit as 10 his history. Ho is now 20
years OF age. but is as straight as an
arrow. and his mind IS as clear as 30
was when. as captain Of the Closhu
clan. DE fought against the Shotgun In
vasion more than 40 years ago. lie is
tan Tor "a japanese, is slender and why
and so gentle and quiet in his mannc'
and conversation that one would mover
imagine that his life had been that OF "a
minister Of war. am organizer OF armies
and "a general in command.
Prince Yamagata was born az Just
about the time Andrew Jackson LETT
the presidency OF the United states.
He was rs years old when Commodore
Perry presented the letters he brought
here from President Fillmore, ana
made me treaty which opened Japan
10 the world. and he was man Of 80
AZ the time the emperor was brought
out of his seclusion to be- the ruler of
the new Japan At that time he had
already made military reputation
and soon thereafter he was appointed
major general and then minister OF
war. lie Was acting ms tho war minis
ter at about the time that General
Grant ended his term as president or
the United States. and after that held
many civil ass well as military positions.
Hc aided iu organizing the government.
and has several times been at the head
of 10 as premier lie attended the cor
nation Of the car in 1896. aud then
brought back tho treaty with kusslt.
which goes by his name. He was for
time commauder-in-chi ~ the
army of Japan in IFS war with China,
and was made chief OF the general stan
during the war with Russia.
JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES.
with q record like this one would im-
aelne that Gen Yamagata would De
an advocate of military aggrandize-
ment ana that his voice would favor
the pushing of Japan 10 the front as a
military nation. I did not Ind him 80.
When ] asked him whether there was
any feeling here in favor OF war
with the United States he replied.
NO. there is nothing of the kind We
DO not want war with any nation. and
most certainly not with our old friend
the United states. ON the other hand
cannot believe that there rs any such
sentiment I'm your country against ours
I'VE japanese have always looked
upon you as our great and good friend.
You are "a sort of mother country to
us The Japan OF today Us child OF
America. Il was you who opened our
ports 20 the world and II was from
your teachers that we took our first
lesson in the arts OF modern civiiza-
ton Throughout our new national
life you have always stood 10y Us, and
We have felt that We could rely upon
you. We feel so now. and 1 cannot
believe but that the general sentiment
OF your country Is friendly 10 us
a NATION OF PEACE
Besides" continued his highncss,
Japan ls not auXious 90 he considered
warlike nation our military estab-
lishmeut was created for defense ana