Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-26
THE SPEAKERS CHEERED
TIE " s-TN'N~'fI W ~ hI0
When They Declare Can Be No War
Between America and Japan.

New York, April 25.-Philander c. Knox
secretary of State. Baron Yasuya Uchida
the Japanese ambassador, Congressman
William Sulzer and Seth Low were the
principal speakers at the 18th annual din
ner of the American Asiatic Society held
at Delmonico's tonight. There were 125
diners, including a sprinkling of Japanese
and there We're cheers whenever a speak
er declared that war between this country
and Japan was "unthinkable and rumors
to the contrary We're without foundation
Seth Low, president of the society, read
letters of regret from President Taft
Senator Lodge, James Bryce. the British
ambassador, Andrew Carnegie and others.
In all the communications the belief and
sentiment was expressed that nothing ex-
lists in the relations between Japan and
the United States to disturb the peace be-
tween the two nations.
President Taft wrote in part as follows
THE Importance of that treaty with
Jaoan, the conclusion you are assem-
bled to celebrate, cannot be- gagged
solely from the standpoint of its at
Effectiveness commercially. The treaty
Which was recently negotiated and rat
flied is an additional guarantee of the
friendship which has so long existed
between the two countries, a friend
ship so strong that we can we'll regard
with complacence even mischieVous
and malicious rumors SO particularly
circulated by friends of neither govern
ment, and which so utterly lack foun-
dation in fact
ITO your guest of honor, Baron
Yasuya Uchida. ambassador of Japan.
pay the tribute of my respect and adj
miration. The message which he will
deliver to you, one of good will and
neighborly cordially. will. l am sure,
strike responsive chord in Your
hearts"
Secretary Knox, the first speaker,
proposed the health of the Emperor of
Japan. which was drunk amid the
shouts of "Banzai."
If the recent treaty negotiations
have been successful" said the secre-
tary. as is generally acknowledged to
be the case both in America and Japan,
wish to say that that happy result is
to be attributed primarily to the
friendly spirit of mutual consideration
in which both governments approach
ed the subject through their p!enipo-
tentiaries."
Mr.. Knox attacked as a fallacy the
theory that success in commerce is
propertionate to the strength of arma-
ments. Surely" he said, there is
ample room on the broad Pacific and
abundant opportunities in the regions
that border it's shores for the peaceful
enterprises of all the nations for all
time to come. l am confident that all
future questions will be met and solved
by both governments and both peoples
in the same spirit of mutual considera-
ton that has characterized the past,
1T is time that the right-minded people
of both nations deliberately closed their
ears to false reports and resolutely re-
fuse to allow their feelings to be ruffied
by the vaporings of sensationalistss
Baron Uchida characterized was talk
as absurd, nonsensical and silly" He
said in part:
You have, / believe, in New York
society for physical research, which in
Vestgates uncanny things. 1t would do
the world great service if it would I'M
rarei the mystery of this irrational but
persistent war talk, dispel this night
mare and execute this hobgoblin''