The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-06
AID OF JAPANESE
ASKED BY ENGLAND
Baron Kato Reviews at Length
Events Leading Up to War
With Germany.
MAKES STATEMENT TO DIET
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Closes Speech With Tribute
to United States.
MAKES STATEMENT TO DIET

TOKYO. September 6.-Baron Kato.
Minister OF Foreign Affairs. re
Viewed at length ~ the opening IL the
Diet to-day the events leading ~ to
tho war with Germany. iic said that
carly In Angus, England asIcd Japan,
assistance. and that Japan necessarily
complied. Alto i fuli and frank
change of vi'ws Japan advised tho
Germans OF tho Japanese "ul,i'natum.
which was Unanswered. aud war vas
declared"
baron Kate closed his speech with
n tribute to the United States govern
ment.
ITO the American government for
the courtesy which II ha. been good
enough to extend to japan Ia connec-
tion with the present trouble. he said,
'nnd for the protection OF Japan's sub
tects and interests in Germany and
Austria, l desire - express tho sincere
appreciation OF tho imperial govern
ment."
Baron Kato'. statement to the Diet
follows. IN part:
Early in August tho British govern
ment asked the imperial government
for assistance. under the terms of the
Anglo-Japanese alliance. German mon
of-war and other armed vessels vert
prowling the scaa OF Eastern ASIA.
mcnacinE our commerce ana that OF
made ready apparently for the purpose
OF constituting base for warlike
operations In Eastern Asia Grave
anxiety was thus teii as 10 the main
tenAnce OF peace IN the Far East
MINTENASCE or PEACE
IN EASTERN ASIA
"AB all arc aware OF th!s agreement.
the alliance between Japan and Great
Britain has for !ts object the main
tenance OF general peace In Eastern
Il ~, ~
integrity of China. as well as the prin-
ciplo OF equal opportunities for COM
fnerce and industry OF all nations In
that country. and for the maintenance
and defense, respectively. OF the ter
ritorial rights and special intercais OF
the contracting parties.
Therefore. inasnuch she was
asked by her ally for assistance ut =
tina when the commerce OF Eastern
Asia, which japan and Great Britain
regarded alike. when one OF their spe-
cial interests was subjected to constant
menace. Japan which regards that al
lance as the guiding principle OF her
foreign policy. could not but comply
with the request TO do her part.
After imperial sanction had been
obtained. resolution was communf-
Gated TO the British government and n
full and frnnk exchange Of views be-
tween tho two governments followed
il was nnaily agreed between them
to take suCh :ctlOn Us "ae HcceHSdES
o protect their general interests. a.
contemplated b. the agreement OF their
alliance japan had no desire or In
clination to become involved =: the
political conflict, only believing that
she owed to herself to be faithful to
hor alliance. and strengthen Its fonn-
dalton by tnsurinE permanent peace In
tho East and protecting the special In
terests of the two allied powers"
BRIEF REFERENCE
TO AUSTRIA LII SGAHl
Baron Kato referred briefly 10 Aus
trin-Hungnry, which had. he said. only
very limited !rt--ests In the Far East
and with which Japan desired TO main
tain peaceful rcla atoms as lonG as pos
sibie At the same time. II appeared
rs II Austria Hungary also desired 10
avoid complications. II was fact
he said that as soon Japan and
Germany entered into n state OF war
tho Austro Hungarian government
asked for consent OF the good Offices II
the imperial government permitting the
kaiserin Elizabeth. her only man-ot
war In the Far East likely to force u
state OF war 10 go to Shanghai and
there disarIn. Continuing Baron kato
said;
II was about 10 communicate 10 the
Austrian ambassador. the fact that
Great Britain ana japan entertained no
objection to the disarminB of The
Kaiserin, when suddenly on August ..
the Ambassador informed me that In
consideration OF Japan's action against
Germany his government had instruct
ed him to leave his post and break off
diplomatic relations"