The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-25
JAPANS NEW FOREIGN MINISTER
NEVER IN DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
Baron Shimpei Goto Fond of Innova-
tons, Talks Freely and Loves to
Face Troublous Situations
By X. K. KAWAKAMl.

ny ~. n. kAWANAml.
w 18TH the resignation OF Wis
M count Ichiro Motono as Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs. the
Downing Street Of Japan received
as his successor a statesman totally
different in type from those who had
successfully held that portfolio.
Baron Shimpei 0oto. the present
Foreign Minister of Japan. unlike his
not a diplomat by training. He had
never occupied any position, important
or Insignificant, In the consular or dip
lomatic service. In his school days he
never studied international law or po-
litical theories. On the contrary, he
was educated and trained to become a
physician. Though fortune has sipce
thrust him into the iimeiight OF poll
tics and bestowed upon him various
governmental honors. he has never
had the opportunity to Identify himself
with the diplomacy Of the empire.
One can well imagine the astonish-
ment which seized the Foreign ONCE
at Toxic when Premier Count Terau-
chi announced that Baron Goto had
been chosen as Foreign Minister. A
physician in the role Of a diplomat!
In the traditional conception Of diplo-
macy nothing can be more anomalous.
Does he know anything about the laws
Of nations? Is he familiar with the
usages Of diplomatic dealings? Is he
not utterly unacquainted with the
temperaments and inclinations Of
Downing Street. of the Quai d'Orsay.
Of the Wilhelmstrasse?
True, he served as Minister Of
Congratulations ten years ago. and
more recently as Minister OF Home
Affairs. But the craftsmanship ex-
pected Of a diplomat Is Of somewhat
different order from that required Of
those In other Ministerial positions.
To the sedate gentlemen STEPPED in
the time honored idea Of diplomacy
the appointment Of Goto as Foreign
ment.
A Man Of Action.
Nor is this the only reason why
this experiment has been disapproved
in many quarters- To conservatives
Goto seems to be too full Of new
ideas-tooV fond Of innovations. In
our pariance he Is a hustler and Is
impatient with impatience.
He IL always forming new plans
in his fertile brain. and once he sets
his mind upon q plan he II loath to
lose any time in putting It into prac-
tice. How dangerous to allow such
a man to head a department where
patience and neveR falling equanimity
have been considered tho requisite
qualities Of a dipiomatI
But that II not the worst vice Of
which Goto's opponents accuse him.
To them his greatest LIABILITY IL his
tongue-he talks too much. and talks
indiscreetly too. It II not without
reason that people over there call
Goto. rather humorously. the "Roose-
welt Of Japan"
The two men have perhaps many
virtues in common. But they also
have many qualities which can
hardly be called virtues. Why per-
NIT such n problematical man as
Goto to tamper. with intricate in
ternational affairs. the conduct OF
which requires a mind cool. we'll bal
anced. and. above all. especially
trained for the purpose?
In the vigorous language which
Baron Goto Is wont to employ. such
criticisms are sheer nonsense. In his
judgment, the failure or unsatisfactory
conduct of Japanese diplomacy Is
mainly due to the mistaken notion
prevalent among his countrymen and
especially in the Foreign once. that
Ministers OF Foreign Affairs and Am
bassadors must be chosen only from
among men trained from the begin
ming in the art Of diplomacy.
What is essential to the head OF the
Foreign Office and to ENJOYS to foreign
countries he believes is broad calibre
wide view, strong win. keen mind and
sound common sense. II man Is
endowed with these qualities he can
withott any special training or ex-
perience in diplomacy. be a success
as q diplomat.
Baron Goto's Traits.
It has been my good fortune to have
splendid opportunity to study and OBJ.
serve at close quarters this remark.
able man. whom one may call non
| diplomatic diplomat. have known
him for twenty years. and In 1908 I
as the correspondent Of Toxic news
| paper, travelled with him through
Siberia and Russia.
His vigorous gesture. his unfalter'
ing speech. his hearty, childlike laugh
ter. his restless activity are all vivid
in my memory. II were to see hin
to-day, not to get copy" for the press
but for an intimate chat, he would
perhaps talk about his own appoint
ment as Foreign Minister somewhat
like this:
, They think that we have little tim
Der for the higher posts In our diplo
matte service. This Is a mistaken no
ton. II we look for diplomats only ir
diplomatic circles we are likely to b
disappointed. But there any many
diplomats outside those narrow circles
"a knowledge Of diplomatic usasei
and etiquette may be convenient TO
diplomat. but II is by no means AZ
esse initial requisite. A real diploma
may more often be found In a keen
sincere though somewhat rugget
man than in polished courtier. The,
! say that men who talk too readily
should not be employed in diplomacy
On the contrary. we need In our For
eign Once men who know how to talk
and talk frankly.
l - til ha hAA