Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-18
OFFICIAL DELEGATION
FROM JAPAN TO VISIT U. S.
rive Members of House of Repre-.
sentatives to Sail for This Coun-
try Late In September.
GREAT INTEREST IN TRIP
Primary Object OF Mission Is to Ex-
press Good Will Held for Ameri-
can People-Will Study Economic,
Political and Social Conditions.
Lcorrespondence Of Aksocfa,ed press.1

correspondence OF Associated Press.
IokYO. Tuesday. August 21.-Among
Japanese people the greatest interest
is attached to the forthcoming visit to
mo United States OF n delegation of Ave
members Of the House of Representa-
ives. The primary object Of the mis-
sion was set forth In an interview with
inc Associated Press correspondent by
Tokichi Masao. the chairman as that
OF conveying to the American people
tho sincere expression of the friend
snip and good will held by the people
of Japan. The parliamentary delegates
plan to sail for the United States late
In September, and. after spending ten
Gays on the Pacific Coast. will leave
for Eastern cities. About two months
VIII be spent in the United States
studying conditions. economic political
and social. 1t is tho first visit to
America OF an official delegation Of Its
kind.
Mr. hasao, who was educated at Yale
University. and who for "a number of
years was senior legal adviser to the
slamese government. from which he re-
ceiVed the title OF marquis. is one Of
the most prominent members OF the
Japanese Diet.
II occurs to me-" he said, that the
present is most opportune time for
our visit to your country. Japan and
tho United States are now allies in
hghtfnS for common cause, and II is
an ideal moment for us to go to the
United States and talk over the cues
lions which mutually interest us. II
Is our dream that this temporary aIli-
ance between the two countries will
last much longer than the present war.
WANT TO KNOW CAUSES
OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY
we desire to study your economic
conditions. Wo wish to visit your
cities and your factories. We want TO
know the causes OF your prosperity.
First we will spend about ten DAYS on
the Pacific Coast. with the special pur-
pose OF studying the question of jap
anese labor. That is very important
problem. Personally. l have the feel
Ing that some of the Japanese in the
United States lack an understanding
OF what is expected of them. and |
think that We. coming from the home
country. can give them some sugyes
lions as to how better TO MT i'm and
assimilate with American life in a
manner to meet the ideas OF the Amer.
lean people"
DIT. Masao also spoke OF China. He
was asked whether the people OF Japan
expected the United States TO recor
nize the special and paramount inter
est OF Japan in China. lie replied tina,
he did not believe that issue to be in
VOWED. at least at the present time.
But he was convinced that Japan
when those nations contemplated DO
hical action of any kind in China.
lie was quite of the opinion that the
Japanese people do not at all times
understand conditions In the United
States. more especially the fundamental
american conception of State rights in
government. When the mission had
made It's study in America and returned
to japan he was convinced that much
could be done in clearing away miscon
ceptions which existed in the minds of
the Japanese with reference to the sit
uation in the United States and the true
sentiment OF the American people to-
wards tho people of Japan.
PROMINENT JAPANESE
COMPRISE PERSONNEL,
Other members OF the mission are:
kotero Mochizuki. who was u barrister
at law at London for some years, and
VINO Is now Journalist by profession
being the editor OF the Liberal News
Agency and the Financial and Eco.
nonic Monthly. He has written books
on the United States
1oshio Shimada. another delegate
is lawyer and university lecturer.
The fourth representative, Etsu,iro
Cehara' Is graduate of the Seattle
nigh School and the Washington State
University and received the degree of
doctor OF science from London Univer-
SHY. The NTH member OF the commits
sion Is DR.. Masatsugu yamane, who is
president OF the japan Medical School
The members of the commission rem
resent all the leading political parties
IN Japan, and is ver:' comprehensive
body, taking in all shades OF poIitic.I