Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-06

\ RMY, navy and civil representa-.
~ tives of the United States govern
'ment and the territory Of Hawaii
turned out to do honor today TO one
of the most notable diplomatic bodies
that has ever touched these chores
the japanese imperial war mission TO
America. The party are the official
guests of Hawaii today and Q portion
of tomorrow.
Whatever may be the various de-
tails Of the mission on which the Jap
anese imperial party, in Honolulu to.
day. Is going to Washington they are
not being Aired to any great extent
before the arrival in that city.
This was evident to newspaper men
today who boarded the Korea Maru
outside the harbor in an attempt TO
secure some word regarding the Inn
portant visit TO the United States.
Politely and with all grace viscount
Kikujiro Ishii, ambassador extraordin-
airy and plenipotentiary, refused %
discuss the purpose and intent Of the
mission.
viscount Ishii looks in every way
the part of q statesman. His hair
is slightly gray and he appears to be
but little past middle age.
The noted diplomat was In Honolulu
10 years ago on his way TO the main
land, at that time IN the interests or
the educational question which had
come up in the mainland regarding
the Japanese. He 10 regarded prac.
ticaIly as the author Of the sc-called
"Gentlemen's agreement"
Newspaperman With Party
John Russell Kennedy, veteran
man in the Far East, who ID an old
friend of Viscount Ishii and Ii making
the trip at the special request OF the
ambassador, talked unofficially this
morning Of the visit.
"I do not believe II can be said that
the party Is going to Washington with
any determined policy to present, he
said, "but that rather this visit ID in
line with all those made to the United
States by other members Of the allied
cause.
"Of course" he adds, zone can
never tell what may come up IN the
course Of q conversation. The visit =
regarded as an important one, Of
course.
Japan is heartily glad to have
America as an ally in the war, Of this
l am sure"
Discussing the ship situation, Mr..
Kennedy stated that the matter OF
Japan's turning over shipping to the
United States for he allied cause IN
turn for steel from America was
comparatively new suggestion and had
not been discussed much at the time
he left Japan. He pointed out that
Japan is without steel except for that
| imported, and stated that 1t would be
necessary for some such provision 70
be made II she should thus transfer
her shipping.
The now famous Chinese note OF .
/ few months ago aroused but little
interest in official circles, according
to Mr.. Kennedy, and was used more
by newspapers as basis for factIonal
argument against the government than
for anything of serious consideration.
Mr.. Kennedy traced briefly the dip
1omatic life Of the viscount He comes
from an old family of the samurat, OF
soldier class Of Japan. His work with
the government has been for practical
ly % years This has taken him &c
KorcaA China, America and Francs
as well as a large number OF Other
countries
He vas in Picking at the time Of the
Boxer uprising and in Paris as am
bsssador when the war broke out IN
1914. He returned from Europe two
years ago.
Mr.. Matsuzo Nagai, secretary OF thu
dcpa rtment Of foreign affairs, discuss
ed the mission to some extent with
lnewspapermen. He pointed out thai
in view of the nature Of the visit Il
was felt by the official party that nc
| interview regarding the visit could b
gfven at this time. Mr.. Ishii politely
referred all questions to Mr.. Nagai.
i ~. 49, -