Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-23
CAPITAL WARMLY
GREETS JAP PANESE
Highest Marks of Courtesy by
Government and Enthusiasm
by Public for Visitors.
COME ON IMPORTANT MISSION
To Decide, After Consultation,
How Two Nations Can Co.
Operate in War.
COME ON IMPORTANT MISSION
.IRy As.oci.ted Prcss.l

preciation 10 President Wilson from
the Emperor and people Of Japan. was
welcomed to Washington to-day with
warmth and enthusiasm by the pub
lie. and with the highest marks OF
courtesy by the government.
Passing through streets thronged
with people. past long lines Of school
children dressed in white, with tho
red sun of Japan on the fronts Of
their gowns. the distinguished visitors
were escorted by cavalry to the resi-
dence of Perry Belmont. where they
will he the guests of the government
during their stay. Tomorrow they
will make the formal calls which must
prHcede the Official conference being
arranged for them. and in the evening
they will dine with the President.
viscount Ishii. the special ambassa-
dor. spoke to the newspaper corre-
spondents this afternoon of his graft
ticstion at the welcome given the mis-
sion here. at Honolulu, San Francisco
and at all States of Its journey. He
said:
ITO say am pleased to be in Wash
instor. would be too conventional.
am delishted-wc are all delighted
with the cordial reception.
I'm speaking to the gentlemen of
newspaper press which wields such
enormous power in this great country.
I am we'll aware that purely conven-
tionat utterance Is worse than noth-
ins-but. at the same time, what can
! say" Obviously. it will be improper
TO anticipate the message l carry from
hA of 10,
President.
TOGETHER As BROTHERS,
FIGHTING FOR COMMON CAUSE
my last visit to America was just
ten years ago. Since then many things
have changed. and now that Japan and
America are together brothers in arms
and lighting for a great common cause.
have every hope and confidence in
success. victory and for perma nentiy
continued International amity."
Tonight the members of the mission
dined informally with the Japanese
ambassador.
The mission, 1t is authoritatively ex-
pla ined. has not come here on a com
merciai or political crrand, but TO
greet the United States as brother
nation fighting for a common end. and
TO decide after consultation how b@s.
the two nations can cooperate. both
in an economic and military sense. in
carrying on the war. Among the most
important problems is that OF the dis
position of Japanese shipping. with the
view 10 making it of The greatest as
sistance in the conduct of the war
Already Japanese merchan. vessels
nj ~
cargoes in all parts of the world. Near
munitions and supplies for the kus-
sian army from the United States have
crossed the Pacific to VIadivostock IL
Japanese bottoms. Japanese ships have
carried cargoes OF rice and other things
needed by the British Indian armies
from the Far East TO the ports in The
Mediterranean nearest the locations oil
these troops in European battle fields.
LOOK TO JAPAN FOR STILL
FURTHER ASSISTANCE
But the entente allies are looking to
Japan for still further assistance in
solving the ocean transportation prob
lem. 1t is understood that Japan stands
ready to render this additional as
sistnnce within her abilities. and to
contrive means to do SO is one of the
prime objects of the special mission.
America becomes an important fac
tor in meeting this demand. because
the japanese cannot build the great
number of new ships needed for the
trade. without an adequate supply Of
structural steel from the United States
Such exports of steel can be made by
A nrtc
tremendous building program of the
Shipping Board promises to take the
entire available domestic mill product.
Consequently, If the Japanese ship
yards. now running in a very limited
way. are to be supplied with American
steel. there must be an agreement that
the new Japanese tonnage is to be de-
voted to war uses. The definition OF
this term. war uses" will in itself
constitute difficult task for the COM
mission. Generally, 1t is assumed 1t
will include not only vessels carrying
munitions of war and army supplies,
but cargoes Of foodstuffs and material
for clothing.
An important secondary consdcra-
ton Is that OF freight rates, and it
remains to be seen whether the Jap
anese ship-owners can be induced to
content themselves with, more moder-
ate profits than they have been MAX
ing in the past. thus conforming to
the scale of ocean freight rates which
the allies and the United States are
expected to lay down. Japan has a
total mercantile tonnage of 1000, 900.
and is adding to this at the rate Of
500,0n0 tons per year. OF this total,
about 41-2 per cent now Is in the en- :.
tente war service.
TO DISCUSS ENLARGEMENT
OF NAVAL ACTIVITIES
Another war measure which the COM
mission, is expected to discuss will be
the enlargement of Japanese naval ac-
tivities. Already japan has been of
great service to her allies In reliev-
Ing them wholly OF the necessary and
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