New Britain herald., 1916-03-03
RUSSIA AND JAPAN
 MAY CLASP HANDS
Friendship and Mutual Confidence Between Countries Waxing Strong
Correspondence of The Associated Press.)

1 way has been cleared for an actual ! alliance between Russia and Japan
 as rsult of the visit here of the
 Grand Duke George Michaelovitch.
 cousin of the Car. It is likely that
 the newspapers have exaggerated the
 number of things that are expected to flow from the event but there are | indications that at least a practical understanding will be reached at the i conclusion of the war concerning i Asiatic Russia and the Far East
 References to the closer union be-
 tween Russia and Japan are contain
 cd in the official addresses exchanged l last night at the palace where En1- l peror 1oshihito gave a state dinner , in honor of the Grand Duke who
 came to Tokio to convey congratula- i tory coronation greetings from the | CZar.
 Tt is our great satisfaction and ! pleasure said Emperor Yoshihito. | "to see the sentiments of friendly re>-uct and mutual confidence be- tween our nations daily increasing and growing stronger. We wish Yorr , Highness' visit to this country will 1 be an enjoyable one and we firmly believe that Your iIighness will per sonally observe and recognize the l tertained by our nation toward, your country and people, Thc Emperor then presented the Grand Duke with the Grand Order of Merit of the Chrysanthemum and honored the r1emers of his suite with various dec orations.
 After transmitting the czars con- gratulations, the grand duke referred to the great honors paid to Russia ana spoke of tine friendly attitude and deep sympathy given by the Japanese nation since the commencement of the war He went on to say: II beg to assure your majesty that the 1m- mense sympathy and assistance gwen 10 our country have caused unbound ed gratitude and will leave an ever lasting impression in the chronicle of the friendly relations between Japan and Russia"
 Emperor Decorated.
 The grand duke presented to the emperor in behalf of his royal cousin the grand order of Saint Andrew dec orated with diamonds and bearing the imperial crest carved on a diamond. To the Empress was presented the First Order of Saint Catherine with her art work and the imperial crest carved in diamond. These are the l highest orders to be found in the Russian court and that presented to the Empress is especially noteworthy because it is the first time that the Empress of Japan has received a decoration from a foreign ruler The Russian envoy remains in Japan about two weeks.
 The extent of the pro- Russian en- thusiasm now pervading Japan is evidenced by the tone of newspapers and other periodicals. Leading dailies appear with editorials welcoming the visit of the Grand Duke and empha- cizing the growth of the friendship between the two empires. They point out that already a practical alliance exists between the two na- tions and earnestly express the hope that the understanding now existant 1 will merge into a formal alliance at 1 the closing of the present war. Some 1 journals make the point that the rap proachment of which the Grand Dukes visit is one of the outward and visible signs is a happy illustra ton of the good that may be done by en-
 frightened policy even after a devas-
 tating war. One newspaper re- 1 marked that had Japan's victory in
 Manchuria been followed by an inn
 possible settlement such as that Ger
 many forced upon France in 1870 the
 fear of a Russian war of revenge
 must have dominated Far Eastern
 politics for many years. Thanks to
 the tact and wisdom of the states
 men of the two countries such feeling
 as may have existed diminished con-
 stantly and may now be said to have
 entirely passed away"
 The JiJi remarked that althougl,
 Germany was certain to be defeated
 she would not be ruined and Japal, 1 should see to it that in the great
 world competition to come she has
 strong friends. Japans diplomacy l should continue to be based upon
 the principle and spirit embodied in
 should not be altered, but this
 should not prevent a closer union
 between Japan and Russia.
 Japan Loyal to Allies.
 Declaring that those who perceive
 considerable pro- German feeling in
 Japan accept irresponsible utteranccs
 for the real opinion of the /country
 the Japan Times insists that the heart of Japan is loyal to the En- tente allies. That heart stood by Russia" The newspaper urged tho signing of a fo1nal pa ct of alliance an being advisable. opportunte and necessary. It pointed out that ter years or even ten months, ago he would have been styled an over-op- timistic and idle prophet who Ventur- ! ed to predict such speeches as were exchanged at the imperial banquet It could not have entered the though, of the most zealous enthusiast for q Russo-Japanese rapproachment, that before all others. Russia would be the ! first to send a special envoy witt messages of utmost cordiality nc friendship in connection with the cor onation.