The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-11
Will Show L. S. Can't Be
FlOuted i'm Far East
ern Affairs.
SIGNIFICANT MISSION
Will Make a Deep Impression
on Nations Interested
in China.
IT'S EFFECT on JAPAN
Hope That Visit Will Remove
Sting Of the Magdalena
Bay Incident.

WAsHiNGToN. Aug 1O.---The highest
diplomatic significance Is attached TO
the announcement made BY President
Taft at the Waite House this afternoon
that Secretary Of state Knox will 30
20 Japan ar the representative Of the
President at the funeral ceremonies for
the late Emperor Mutsuhito.
In his announcement President Taft
indicated that he regards the forth
coming Knox mission on a level Of
Importance with the famous visit Of
Commodore Perry to Japan more than
half century ago. which resulted In
the opening up Of Japan to intercourse
with the nations of the Western world
and the influx of Western civilization.
Secretary Knox. accompanied by Mrs.
Knox. will leave Washington August Is,
which is next Thursday. He will
proceed to Seattle, Wash. and there
board an armOred cruiser Of the United
States navy which will convey him to
Japan.
Eansford :. Miller. chief Of the divi-
sion of Far Eastern affairs Of the State
Department. will act as secretary of
the mission. Mr.. Miller has lived more
than twenty years In the Orient. speaks
Chinese and Japanese and Is the State
Department expert on affairs Of the
Far East. An Admiral OF the navy
and General Of the army. neither of
whom has yet been selected. will &C.
company the Secretary as aides.
Three Days for FuneraI.
Secretary Knox will arrive in Japan
in time for the funeral ceremonies,
which begin on September 13 and con-
tinue for three days. first at Toxic ano
then at kyotO, the ancient capital. He
Will leave Japan soon after the hnal
ceremon!als and return to the United
states. with probable stops at Manila
and Honolulu.
President Taft states in his announce.
ment Of the Knox special mission to
Japan that 1t was decided upon to
mark the cordial relations that have
existed between the United States and
Japan from the time Of Admiral Perry
and Townsend Harris continuously
through the long reign Of the late
Emperor"
Behind this general statement It IL
we'll understood here that there Is .
host Of considerations which are largely
responsible for the Presidents decision
to send his Secretary Of State half
way around the world.
These considerations are wholly aside
from the fitness OF sending a special
envoy 10 Japan at the close Of the
reign of the Emperor who brought his
country into the fun light of the West
ern world. They are quite apart too
from the fact Of President Taft's real
personal regard for the late Mutsuhito.
Visit TO Remove sting.
Among other things 1t Is hoped that
Mr. knoX's visit will serve to remove
whatever sting Japan has found In the
Magdalena Bay incident and Its re-
sultant Lodge resolution and In the 4,
recent agitation In this country over
the manner In which Japan has con-
Quoted the trial Of several Corean
Christians accused of conspiracy.
Both OF these Incidents. especially the
latter. were the source Of considerable
Irritation and embarrassment at tho
State Department. embarrassing be-
cause they were regarded al unneces-
sary and unpleasant insinua tions against.
Japan.
1t Is we'll known that the japanese
as people are peculiarly responsive
to attention and recognition from the
Western nations. Those here ac-
quainted with the Japanese predict that
the Presidents act In sending Mr.. Knox
AS special envoy will awaken the warm
est feelings of gratitude among the
japanese.
The Knox mission should take its