The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-03
BARON KATO SAYS
 BRITISH ALLIANCE SHOULD CONTINUE
Must Remain Pillar of Ma tion's Diplomacy, Says
 Ex-Foreign Minister.

Kioto,, Japan, June 3.-What many Japanese people regard as an import ant political address was delivered yesterday by Baron Takaaki Kato, former minister of foreign affairs, and leader of the government Doshi- kai party, at the inaugural meeting of the Kioto branch of his party. AL luding to Japan's position in the pres ent war, Baron Kato declared that in
 his opinion the Anglo-Japanese al- liance must remain the main pillar of the nations diplomacy.
 The speaker said that Japan would gain a reasonable compensation in re- turn for the part she has played in the war but he wished to emphasize that Japan's position was different from that of her allies in Europe in asmuch as Japan's activities have been restricted to the Orient. The taesmen warned his compatriots that should they expect too much from the
 peace conference they would be dis appointed.
 Turning his attention to the recent attacks on the Anglo:Japanese alli- ance, Baron Kata expressed his re- grets that unfriendIy comments should have been made. It was certain, he said that they were confined to poli- ticians and lay academicians. What the scholars voiced was the more dan gerous, he declared, because although these men may not know much about practical diplomacy, the masses of the people are likely to be nisIed by their
 scholastic attainments and believe they are right The ex-minister add | ed
 | t.It would be most regrettabIe if our 1 people are led to any erroneous con- 1 ception of the Anglo-Japanese alli- ance for I regard it as the main pill 1 lar of our diplomacy
 Baron Kato said he understood that oE.s | the alliance on the attitude of Brit ] ish officials and merchants in China
 who were alleged to be hindering Jap
 anese undertakings in that country and on their belief that the forma-
 ton of an alliance with Russia would | render the pact with Great Britain
 useless. It was true, he thought, that
 some British merchants in China have l continually slandered Japan and her people, but he was convinced that
 these Englishmen did not represent | Great Britain.
 | As for the alliance with Russia, l Baron Kato declared it the height of folly to imagine that it could be form ed and maintained independently of the Anglo-Japanese allience. He, for
 one, would welcome an alliance with Russia, he said, but he was convinced that it could be made only on the 1 strength of the pact with Great Bri- i tain and that it must be supplement
 tary to that alliance.
 1 When the peace conference is held the Ang1o-Japanese alliance must be
 the basis of our policy, and Japan l must of course cooperate with Rus sia and France Baron Kato con- l cluded eff Japana goes astray from this policy her position will become
 very difficult. It is most important that our people should recognize the
 delicate diplomatic relationship an6
 endeavor to smooth the way that lies before us for generations to come.'' | Because of Baron Kato's influence
 among the men who direct the Japar
 of today, his public utterances are re garded by many of his compatriots aI
 more or less representing officia opinion.