Evening star., 1933-10-29
JAPANESE ENVOY
PREPARES T0LEAvE
Ambassador Will Depart
From Capital on No.
vember "a.
by JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

buchi, retiring japanese AmbaSSaoor
On November "a he will depart from
Washington on his way back to Toxic,
and many residents of the Capital
meanwhile are calling to bid him good
bye and good luck. All this past week
he has been receiving friends and an
Swering a flood Of cordial letters.
Mr.. Debuchi is the tenth Ambassador
sent to the United States by the Japa-
nese government. The first of the list
in which his name is the latest was
'..Viscount Aoki, who attained ambassa-
.'dorial rank when the legation was
. raised to embassy status in 1906.
Like his predecessors, he is a scion
of an illustrious family. Born in 1873
at Iwateken, 200 miles north of Toxic,
he was destined from the cradle to en-
joy a public career. His given name
Katsuji signifies victorious person"
The Debuchis we're Samurais, and their
fountain or pool at the side or foot OF
q cliff"
Began Career in Berlin.
The Ambassador was educated at the
Royal Commercial College. Toxic. now
the Imperial Commercial University. He
was appointed third secretary at Berlin
in 1907, and the German capital was
the scene Of his honeymoon-he had
e.. married Hama Kikuchi. daughter Of a
celebrated advocate and educator, just
before his departure for Europe.
= In 1910 he became second secrtary at
Berlin, but soon was recalled to serve in
an important post in foreign office head
quarters, Toxic. His next assignment
was that of first secretary at Peking.
{. It was not until 1918 that he made
his initial visit to Washington. He was
first secretary at the embassy in its old
? establishment at 1921 K street. the
house long known as the residence Of
John Sherman, Secretary Of State.
Baron Ishii was his chief.
But with the close of the World War
Mr.. Debuchi was designated to Berlin
difficult task Of aiding in the resumption
of friendly relations with the German
: Reich.
-. Returns to U. S. in 1921.
=, However, the Washington Disarma-
ment Conference, called by President
Harding in 1921, gave him an oppor-
tunity to return to America. He was
an adviser in the delegation represent
ing his country at the important meet
tngs out Of which the Kellogg treaties
grew.
His knowledge Of Chinese affairs
prompted his appointment as director
: of the Asiatic Bureau at Toxic in 1923.
He was made vice minister of foreign
: affairs in December, 1924.
e A wish to promote American under
: standing of the policy Of Japan toward
: China is supposed to have been re-
sponsible for his appointment as Am
bassador to the United States, June 81,
1923.
- Mr.. Debuchi arrived to take up his
new duties on october II of the last
named year.
=. During 1929 he was busy speaking
. writing and granting interviews, striv
ing to build up American confidence in
Japan. On July "a he deposited Japan's
instrument of ratification of the KEEL
logg pact at the State Department.
He was elected honorary president OF
thu Japan Society, New York, January
8, 1880.
Duties Increase in 1891.
The year 1881 brought him added
duties. Repeated conferences with Sec
retary of State Stimson took place in
connection with the crisis in the East
particularly in Manchuria. The cables
to Toxic were hot with correspondence
between his Office and the imperial gov
ernment On June 4 he moved into
the beautiful new embassy at 2514
Massachusetts, avenue, and there exact
= 1y one week later he entertained Col
and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh on the
eve Of their hop across the Pacific.
Mr.. Debuchi was instructed to act as
Ambassador to Cuba as well as the
United States, January 18, 1882, but a
few weeks later it began to be runCred
n hn nnI
Nothing definite. however. was known
until August 10, when he left ycslirg-
ton To- Toxic, arriving there SIp,em-
Der g. He returned to the Capital last
Christmas day
d. Ordinarily, an Ambassador from ia
pan does not remain more than three
years at any one assignment. Mr. De-
buchl has been accredited to Washing
ton nearly twice that long.
Desires Harmonious Blending.
"I admire Western civilization" the
Ambassador declares. Il also love ORR
entail culture A harmonious blending
Is what desire. If we could take the
good points of each culture and make
such blending that would be the
ideal"
Mr.. Debuchi enjoys opera and has
he has spent the major part of his
leisure in society and in the privacy of
his library
Madam Debuchi delicate and petite
OF figure and countenanco, has the
graceful charm of the Oriental aristo-
crat. She had the best education the
world afforded for girls, was taught four
languages in addition to her own. is
widely read and has Travelled every
where. A devout Roman Catholic, she
has taken part in many charitable en-
terprLses in America. especially in the
work of a society which is interested in
ecclesiastical embroidery
g.. The son and daughter of the Debuchi
household have had American educa-
tions, first together in the Friends
School and later, in the case of the boy
Masaru, at Princeton. and in the case
Of the girl, Takako, with tutors at
home.
Two little stories deserve to be added
Tor their lnterpretative value. The first
concerns a small dogWooi vr~c Wlicil
Ambassador Matsudaira, Mr.. Dubuchi's
immediate predecessor, admired and
hated to leave when he was appointed
to the Court of ST. James, London. Mr..
Debuchi had it carefully dug up packed
and shipped back to his friends home
IN Japan-as "a surprise for him. he
said.
Ordered Around by Cameraman.
The second anecdote is reported by
press photographer. 1t goes as follows:
A flock of cameramen had descended
on the Potomac Parkway to photograph
the cherry blossoms. Suddenly, fam
lily party OF four persons appeared under
the trees. One of the picture-hunters
brusquely ordered them to stand aside
and they smilingly did as they were bid
The blossoms were taken from various
positions, and then one of the artists
happened to think that perhaps a pic
ture with some human interest included
might be worth the trouble. The family
group, accordingly. were ordered back
under the trees. 1t was only when the
time came to ask names for caption use
that the photographers discovered that