The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-17

cluding the Russo-Japanese railway
 convention and was promoted to vis-
 count last summer for his distin-
 guished service to the state in con-
 cluding the alliance between Japan ana
 Russia.
 Viscount Motono is regarded as Ja-
 pans most accomplished diplomat.
 Having spent about half his life in
 Europe either in study or in official
 service and being regarded as one of
 the intellectual lights of the realm. all
 Japanese deem him particularly fitted
 for the post of foreign minister. He
 is popularly supposed to be more at
 home in French than in his mother
 tongue and during his long residence in Russia as ambassador acquired a knowledge of the Russian language
 Also he speaks English readily. Re- garded as one of Japan's scholars, he is also considered by the Japanese as a perfect type of a cultured Japanese gentleman. Though deeply influenced by European civilization,' says one writer. "Viscount Motono remains ever a true samurai. 1t was his per- | sonal character as well as his ca pacity which made friendship with Russia possible and voiced this friend | shin practiceIlv into an alIisnce GOTO JAPANESE ROOSEVELT ! Baron Goto has been sometimes called the Japanese Roosevelt" and ] is. popularly regarded as pro-German. | He is the grandson of Choei Takano one of the pioneer progressives of tho l latter Tokugawa period who was put 1 to death by the Tokugawa govern | ment for his denunciation of the pol l icy of excluding foreigners. Goto was | educated for the profession of medi- I1sv. l. Tf1.. l receiving the degree of doctor of med l icine from the University of Berlin | Tn Japan he became a leading au- | thority on health and sanitation. He was sanitary commissioner during the 1 Japan-China war. Later he estab- lished a reputation as an executive | while civil administrator of Formosa. | His vigorous administration of that ! island won him promotion and dis ! tinction until finally he became known as Japan's great colonist-organizer. He displayed ability aS the first presi- | dent of the South Manchurian rat ! road, the company becoming an inde- pendent organ of colonial administra- | ton of Manchuria.
 | On the formation of the second Kat | sura ministry in 1908 Baron Goto was offered the portfolio of minister of i communications, taking the presidency ] of the new imperial railway board | as an additional post. Tn the present l ca binet he will again be president of 1 the railway board in succession to Dr | J. Soyeda When the Katsura ministry 1 created a colonial bureau exercisins 2 | supreme control over Formosa, the I Manchurian leased territory, Saghal- ! fen and Corea, Baron Goto. who had l suggested it's formation, became its | vice president and pursued his con | structive colonial programme.
 l A very romantic incident marked his { earlier career. His daring ina gination and strong sympathies induced him to ] take part in a quixotic plan to rescue | a former daimyo from the hands of 9 band of supposed prosecutors. The | daimyo had been imprisoned by rela- = | tives on the plea of insanity Gotos l activities resulted in his arrest and 1 Imprisonment on the charge of com nlicity in obtaining Illegal possession ! of the imprisoned nobleman. But his motives were found to be honorable. ! He was acquitted and restored to his official position. It is a coincidence | that the judge who examined him was his. present colleague, Minister Nak- ajoshi.
 Because Goto has a strong, resource | full manner, loving power and in- fluence the Japanese have come to ! name him "the Japanese Roosevelt" "You may call us a 'super-party. ! ca binet if you like" Baron Goto ex- claimed to a Japanese interviewer He 1 added: Some people call the Terauchi | ministry bureaucratic. Let them call it what they wish. We do not care for names. We have no connection with any party but we believe that hon. esty and sincerity will win the con | fidence of the people,"