Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-15
KNOX To ATTEND
M|KAD0' FUNERAL
President Taft's Appointment of q
Special Ambassador from Dab
met without PrecedeiE.

Washington. Aug. 11.--As a sign of
this country's earnest desire for the
frien 1ship Of Japan the President has
designated Secretary of State Knox a
special ambassador as his personal
representative at the funeral of EN-.
peror Mutsuhito on September 10. II
is asserted that Mr.. Knoxs visit t.
the imperial court at Toxic will have
no political significance other than
general expression Of friendship.
Coming on the heels of the Magda-
lena bay incident. and not long after
the immigration troubles In Califor-
ma, the visit of the ranking member
of the cabinet to the island empire
cannot be construed as serious ef.
fort on the part OF the United States
to win the good will of Japan.
Mr.. Knox's embassy will be clothed
with all the pomp possible under the
circumstances. He will be accom-.
panied by an admiral and by general
as his aides. and his secretary will be
the present chief Of the bureau Of far
eastern affairs. Mrs. Knox will also
accompany him. Personally. the Sec
rotary of state has shown himself
not averse to travel He has recently
toured Central and South America,
and he has paid a visit to CUBA ana
Porto Rico. The American ambassa-
dor at Toxic will be present at the
funeral also. ana his stan win aid to
the dignity and Importance Of the
American representation at the core.
monies
| ROOSEVELT PRIVATE CITIZEN.
With the single exception Of ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt's service as special am
bassador at the funeral Of King Edward.
there Is no precedent for such an appoint
ment as that OF Mr. Knox Even the ex-
president at the time Of his designation
was a private citizen, and he was also
on the point Of visiting England on hN
way homo from his African expedition
Ordinarily. prominent citizens of wealth
are designated TO head these e1nbassieA
But in the present instance It was de-
cided to express friendship for Japan b.
sending q member OF the administration.
| It Is not believed. however. that Mr..
Knox's visit will have any bearing what
soever on the recent reported understand
ling between Japan and Russia as to the
gradual partition of Manchur1a and the
extension of the Russian sphere of influ-
ence in eastern Mongolia. The United
States has always shown willingness to
construe loosely the open-door policy
where that policy applies to territory d.
rectly adjacent to the two most potent
nations in the Orient. And since those
two nations have shown that they have
forgotten their war and are at last work
ing In harmony. this country has been
more willing than ever to leave them
alone.
MAY HELP CHINESE LOAN.
1t is more likely. however. that the
Chinese loan will receive some i'm
Ipetus from Mr.. Knox's visit. That
loan has been hanging fire with fluc-
tuating prospects ever since the over
throw of the Chinese dynasty. The
trouble has been ascribed TO various
international groups Interested in OBJ
tanning the loan, and 1T Is possible that
some steps toward strengthening out
the tangle may be taken while Mr..
Knox is in direct touch with the east
Term situation.
In this connection the service OF
Ransford Miller. chief of the bureau
OF foreign relations, as secretary to
the special embassy Is of particular
Importance. Mr.. Miller, like Assistant
Secretary OF State Huntington. has
| served III tHe OTlent, ana lac is bc-
lieved to know more about japan and
Japanese aspirants than any other
man in the United States.
When Viscount Chinda, Japanese am
ba ssador to Washington heard of 6ecre-
tary Knox's mission yesterday he assert
ed that It would be taken by the Japanese
, people and government as an act Of the
greatest courtesy and one calculated "a
make even warmer and more cordial the
existing relations between the two gov
ernments.
, PARTY TO SAIL THURSDAY.
} Secretary Knox and his party will SAT-
from Seattle on the armored cruiser Penn.
sylvana. The party Will leave Washing
ton next Thursday. and leave Seattle i'm.
, mediately upon arrival Tho ship VIII
steam direct to Yokohama. and the pao
, sage will probably take about IS dayA
{ The voyage Is about 4,2oO miles. and u
= preserve her supply Of coal for the lons
t. "trip the Pennsylvania Will not make anS
! faster than about 10 knots an hour.