New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-08-27
JAPAN'S WREATH ON
WASHINGT0N'S TOMB
lShil Pays Tribute to "Father Of
His Country"

Washington, Aug 27-The East
and West met at the Tomb Of Wash
ington yesterday afternoon and
pledged themselves as allies in the
cause of democracy and mankind
when Viscount Ishii, in the presence
of American and Japanese statesmen,
diplomats, soldiers and sailors placed
a wreath on the tomb Of the first
president of the United States.
The occasion was not only impress
sive, but of far-reaching importance
and significance. Viscount Ishii ac-
companied by General Sugano and
Vice Admiral Takeshita, stepped into
the tomb and placed the wreath on
Washington's sepulchre by direction
of their emperor. Their tribute was
laid where recently Arthur James
Balfour, Rene Viviani, and General
Joffre, the Prince of Udine, and other
heads of war missions of other allies
had placed similar Wreaths. Stand
ing on the spot where these distin-
guished foreigners had assured this
country they would fight for the ideals
Of democracy, Viscount Ishii yester-
day, speaking for Japan, reaff1rmed
that nations devotion to the cause of
humanity.
The pilgrimage to Mount Vernon
served as another bond to tighten the
ties of friendship between this coun-
try and Japan. Viscount Ishii spoke
of the United States and Japan as be-
ing comrades in a holy cause" and
declared his conviction in their
fealty to a righteous purpose, firm
in the determination that the struggle
must go on until the world is free
from menace and aggression"
I'm the name of my gracious sover-
eign. the emperor of Japan, and rep
resenting all the liberty loving peo-
pie who own his sway" said Viscount
Ishii. II stand today in this sacred
presence, not to eulogize the name of
Washington, for that were presump-
ton, but to offer the simple tribute of
a peoples reverence and love.
"Washington was an American, but
America, great as she is, powerful as
she is, certain as she is of her splen-
did destiny, can lay no exclusive claim
, to this immortal name. washington
is now a citizen Of the world; today
he belongs to all mankind. And so
men come here from the ends of the
earth to honor his memory and to re-
iterate their faith in the principles to
which his great life was devoted.
Japan claims entrance to this holy
circle. She yields to none in rever-
ence and respect; nor Is there any
gulf between the ancient east and the
newborn west too deep and wide fo'N
the hearts and the understandings of
her people to cross.
'It is fitting, then, that men who
love liberty and justice better than
they love life, that men who know
what honor is should seek this shrine
and here in the presence of these
sacred ashes rededicate themselves to
the service of humanity.
lit is fitting place, at this time.
| when all the world is filled with tur-
| MOL and suffering, for comrades in
a holy cause to gather and here re-
new their fealty to righteous pur-
| pose, firm in the determination that
| the struggle must go on until the
! world is free from menace and ag-
erosion.
Japan is proud to place herself
! beside her noble allies in this high
| resolve. and here, in the presence Of
| these deathless ashes, she reaffirms
| her devotion to the cause and the
| principles for which they wage battle
fully determined to do her whole part
in securing for the world the bless
ings of liberty. Justice, and lasting
peace.
LAS the representative of my peo-
pie. then, I place this wreath upon
the tomb OF Washington with rever-
ent hands. and in so doing 1t Is my
proud privilege to again pledge my
country to those principles of right
and justice which have given immor
tality to tho name of Washington"
Secretary Daniels, who was the host
of tho largo party that went to Mount
Vernon on tho yacht MayfloWer, re-
piled to Vtsoount Ishii's speech with
assurances of the fidelity Of the United
States to the Same cause, -..~.
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