Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-11

doubt that Secretary Knox and his staff
would be received in Japan with the high
est hOnOrs and be placed upon the status
of guests Of the imperial government and
received in the government house.
Members of His Staff.
Secretary Knox's rank on this occasion
will be that of special ambassador, and
Raneford s. 4iller, at present chief of
the far eastern division of the Depart
ment of State, and highly regarded in the
Orient as the result of his long diplomatic
service, will bear the designation of
SECRETARY The military and naval Off
GERS who will form the remainder of the
staff of the special ambassador, though
not yet selected, will have the rank of
major general and rear admiral respect
lively, the highest in the two services.
Never before has an American Secre-
tary of State been dispatched on such a
mission. The nearest precedent is that
afforded by the designation of Col. Roose-
welt by President Taft, to represent the
United States as special ambassador on
the occasion of the funeral of the late
King Edward VII, in May, 1910. Col.
Roosevelt at the time of his designation
was In Berlin, and, owing to the impos-
sibility of sending from the United States
officers of higher rank in time to be
present at the funeral, his staff was COM
posed of Lieut.. Commander Reginald r.
Belknap, then military attache at the
American embassy at Berlin and Lieut..
Col. T. Bentley Mott, American military
attache at Paris. AS Henry White, for
merly amba sador to Paris and Rome was
the civil member of his staff, Ambassador
RoOsevelts encourage did not suffer- in
point of dignity in comparison with that
of other nations at the great ceremonial.
While 1t would not do to admit officially
that special embassy of the character
of that headed by Secretary Knox could
| be diverted to any less lofty purpose than
that of paying proper tribute to the men,
Ory of the great ruler. it may easily be
conceived that the visit of the American
Secretary of State to Toxic affords an ir-
resistible opportunity to transact some
| most important diplomatic business in a
straightforward and direct way.
Had Contemplated a Visit.
AS a matter of fact Secretary Knox
| for long time has been somewhat impa-
tient of the slow method of diplomacy
| in arriving at certain greatly desired re-
suits in the development of the oriental
policy of his government, and has even
been led to contemplate q personal visi,
| to Toxic in the endeavOr to reach a com.
plete understanding with the japanese
government. He was inclined to thai
course for a double reason. In the firs
place, he had initiated his administration
/ y UGclara
| tion of an entirely new policy for the de-
velopment and moderniZation of the fal
| east by the use of American capital with
the result of strengthening the Chinese
empire. or its successor. the republic
while affOrding fair remuneration 70,
surplus American capital. In the secon(
| place the assumption of the office ol
| minister of foreign affairs by Baron
| Cchida. who. as ambassador to Wash
ington, the Secretary had come to know
Il md dTr1ir sod Co
easy exchange of honest views and con
victions regarding the policies of the
| United States and Japan in China anS
| Korea that would do much to place the
| relations between the two countries on
| firmer and more friendly basis
Material for Conferences.
soon would have found occasion to go tt
| Japan had not this opportunity offered
There is ample material for consultation
| between the two secretaries, if they car,
| to follow the European fashion o
| shortening diplomatic exchange by per
| sonal interviews. such as are about tt
take place in st. Petersburg between tn,
| French and Russian foreign ministers
and those that have only recently occur
| red in the same capital between the Rus
| sian minister of foreign affairs ant
| Baron Katsura.
| There is the very pressing question o
| the great international loan to be mad,
to China, although it is believed tina
| what threatened to be serious opposition
| OF Japan and Russia now has been over
come. The exact purpose of the reportet
| understanding between Russia and JapaI
| to exclude other nations from any voic,
in the control and development of Man
| churia and Mongolia, is to be fathomed
The pet scheme of Secretary Knox TO
| the naturalization of the future railwa.
| systems of Manchuria is to be eithe
| resurrected or finally buried.
, The treatment of the American mission
| schools in Korea might also be fruitful
| subject for discussion. and doubtless thu
| Japanese government would like to maxi
, some representation regarding the sever
check its ambitious schemes for the de
| velopment of the Japanese mercantil
| marine may receive through the discrimi
nation in favor of American vessels usini
the Panama canal. So that Secretar,
| Knox would find his time fully occupied il
Toxic il he undertook to discuss busines
with Baron Uchida, after the funera
ceremonies are over.
Will Be Slow Trip.
Leaving Washington next Thursday