Evening star., 1919-05-14
BARON GOTO SAYS JAPAN RATES
NO TREATY AS SCRAP OF PAPER
Diplomat, Visiting Here, Says
His Nation Never Ignores
Its Obligations.
Discusses Agreements With
China, Regrets Circulation
of Misleading Statements.


JAPAN" Baron Shimpoi Goto. former
minister of foreign affairs in the i'm
perial Japanese government and still
serving his country in an advisory
capacity as a member of the supreme
council for foreign affairs, told a rep
resentative of Tho Star yesterday.
The former member of three cabinets
is in the United States in company
with DR.. Nitobe and other eminent
men to make an unofficial tour of in
spection of the progress of American
democratic ideals for the ultimate
benefit of his own people, and is being
extensively entertained during his
few days in the National Capital.
Nor has Japan ever postponed any
obligation due either to international
law or international contracts to
which she was party" continued the
diplomat
Baron Goto speaks little English
and his conversation and an occaS-
sional question asked by the interest
lated by Mr.. Akio Kasama, member
Of the staff OF the Japanese foreign
office, who Is member of the party
of visitors.
Japan" said the baron, "is, more
over, strong enough to make good
whatever promises she may make,
and need never plead disability as an
excuse for obligations unfulflled.
I'm the history of Japan for the
visitor in an impressive and deliber-
ate manner, "if comparison be made
with other powers in respect to the
development of material civtliza-
that Japan has been greatly. handi-
capped, both because of shortage
Of natural resources and because she
came into the modern world so re-
Gently. But there is one striking Iea-
national aspect, and that Is the sin
cerity of her actions and her scrupu-
lous adherence to treaty obligations.
In that respect think our nation can
boast itself as among the leaders.
Cites Declarations of japan.
"For instance, If one reads the dec
larations made by japan at the time
of her entrance into the war. and
also the subsequent treaties with
China and with other powers" said
Raron Goto. getting down to q lease
in point" which now looms large In
the ewes of. the whole war-weary
world. zone cannot fail to understand
the true. interests of Japan as re-
CARDS Shantung. / have been amazed
in find misleading notions so widely
in circulation in America, not only
among uninformed people. but even
among those of a considerable degree
of information. I think these are due
to propaganda, and before 1 reached
this country I had no idea OF its
potent effects. AS I SAID before, In
CARDS treaty obligations, the idea
that there can be any disregard on
our part, whether of the restoration
of certain rights or the execution OF
certain duties, strikes me as strange"
From the beginning, the. oriental
statesman pointed out: japan mas ae. ae.
clared her intention of restoring that
part Of former German territory, ana
in subsequent ageements and treaties
she repeated this intention. He ex-
pressed himself as not failing to rec
ognize the sincere efforts OF the as
tinguished statesmen at the peace ia,
BILE to bring about perpetual world
peace and as especially appreciative
of the efforts of the United States
delegates to the conference. mas
much as he is Of the idea that the
war was, in some sense, won py
American achievements, so ne tnlnks
that the coming peace must pc Iounu-
ed in part on a basis OIL American
ideals.
Baron Goto, however, called atten-
ton to the fact that of Japan's three
great neighbors-Russia, China and
the United States-two are, to a
greater or lesser degree, at p1eseHe
two factions which not only are quar-
reling among themselves, put are
giving trouble to their neighbors,
Japan especially Russia Is just now
completely disorganized. The neign,
Dor that remains healthy, poWer1ui
nd n
this state of affairs. Japan's position
must be sympathized with over mere.
Since opening herself to the innuences
Of western civilization she has tried
to mold her own civilization accord
ing to the most progressive IDEAS.
many of them American, and under
the guidance of. friendly powers. not
ably America. In the part she has
played so far in the work OF recon-
structing the world along the same
lines, she has been trying to do
her best in close cooperation with
America.
Says q. s. Should Cooperate.
In view of the fact that her two
other neighbors are likely to remain
disorderly for some time to come,
Japan and her healthy remaining
neighbor on the other side OF the Pa
cific should cooperate to maintain
the peace OF Lne RACINE anu " oSASAu
themselves not only from the aggres-
sions of other powers, but also from
any undesirable influences emanating
from the unfortunate situation Of the
other two neighbors.
Getting back to the particular sub
ject of China, Baron Goto said that
this vast nation is so divided that it
has not the capacity of being prop
erly represented at the peace table.
China apparently is unable properly
to attend to her own organic trou-
bles, but at the same time attempts
| to function as a unified power, with
an unfortunate and impossible situa-