The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-08
TALK OF WAR IS MORE
FOOLISH THAN FABLE
Baron Declares Japan Loves
United States
COUNTRY HAS PROBLEMS
Regarding the Piling Up of Arma-
ments Oura Says the United states
Is Setting Example for
ting Japanese

| New York. August 7.-(Special 1T
is more foolish than the most foolish of
fables, this suppositoin that Japan
| may seek war with the United States.
do not know how to laugh at 1t
seriously enough"
AS he said this today, Baron oura
smiles and then, after shaking his
head as IL to emphasize his expression
of the absurdity. laughed heartily IN
further ridicule of 1t. He spoke with
obvious sincerity and conviction.
I'VE never WILL he added iirmly.
THE very notion of war between Japan
and the United States Is contrary to
the ingrained spirit of affection. Those
words are not strong enough to de-
scribe the feelings of the Japanese for
| this country. We all look upon tilIs
country simply and naturally as the
great and kindly friend of our nation
the friend who has guided and helped
us in our labors toward civilization.
| There is none in my country who does
| not realize the debt we owe to Amer
| lea and love her for II. Moreover our
hands are full. Japan has many big
| problems before her at home. The last
| of our thoughts Is of war. For aggres-
sive war we have no thought at ALL
Baron Oura, minister of commerce
| and industry, who was minister OF
communications during the war with
Russia, leaves tomorrow night for
Washington on his way to Pittsburg.
Chicago and San Francisco and home.
This will give him four days in New
York. Already he admits his anna re-
| ment at all he sees here
The baron came from London, where
he has been acting as Japanese pres
ident of the Anglo-Japanese exhibit
tion. He is a keen advocate of exposi-
lions and believes tho show In London
Is doing much to further trade be-
tween Japan and Great Britain.
You accuse US of piling up arma.
ments," said the baron, but you are
setting us the example. You must
dol Is We do, is what the other ma :
lions say to us and we cannot help
ourselves. 1t is not for us to begin
but we would follow.
I'VE want no more war. In our
generation we have had two wars. our
wounds are recent. We know only
too well the pain and cost of even
successful warfare. We know the in
humanity Of war and its injury to CIV
ilization We have problems at home
to solve without seeking to make
more"
Among your people is there not a
desire to emigrate to the United
States?" he was asked
AT one time there was such a de-
sire. Labor with us is cheap Our
people heard of the chances in this
great country and naturally MANY
wanted to embrace them. Now, now
ever, the opportunities at home are
very large. You forget that with us
1t has become an instinct for home to
count first before all else.
Our industries are developing Sc
rapidly 1t Is incumbent upon us To
retain our labor. We have not enough.
All over Japan the agricultural popula
tion Is rushing to the growing cities.
Already the danger exists that the
prosperity of our trades will injure
our staple NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. We,
too, will soon turn back to the farm.
1t has been said and enormously of
Japan that the women of the country
are despised and downtrodden. The
women or our country take as grea
an interest in the politics and wei =
fare of our country as the men.
"On the contrary, the women arc as
progressive and interested in civic de-
velopment as the women of the occi-
dent Why, we have women report
ers. And they are cultured and In =
tellfgent The expresses of Japan have
gone down in history for their polit-
ical and industrial genius and we are
likewise responsible to the women of
our country for our literature"