The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-24
JAPAN ENVOY
DISCUSSES
WAR GAME
Quotes Letters From Ameri-
cans Criticizing Fleet Maneu-
Vers in Speech Here

Official circles were discussing
with intense interest today a
speech delivered by Ambassador
Hirosi Saito, of Japan, before the
Inquirendo Club of Washington
Wednesday night in which he told
of letters received from American
citizens protesting against the
American naval maneuvers in the
Pacific.
The japanese ambassador read
one of these letters to members OF
the club and guests assembled at
the Mayflower Hotel for the
clubs annual dinner. One Of the
guests was Senator William H.
King, who likewise spoke briefly.
Talks Freely OF Incident -.
Far from denying or. declining
to comment on the incident today,
|, Ambassador Saito not only readily
admitted having made the speechs
but for a representative Of The
Times who called on him at the
Japanese Embassy he brought out
the letters and discussed the sub
ject freely. The implication Of
the speech and the interview was
that the naval maneuvers do not
have the support Of American
public opinion.
Administration officials, speak
ing informally, characterized the
Ambassadors tactics as extra
ordinary" and unprecedented"
High Army and Navy authori-
ties are understood to have re-
ceived reports of the incident. It
appeared today to be the official
view that Ambassador Saito had
overstepped the bounds Of diplo-
matte propriety.
No Word at White House
There was no word at the
White House to indicate whether
the President had heard of the
speech, which recalled a discus
sion by the ambassador last
winter before the Chicago Council
of Foreign Relations, in which
he submitted to Interrogation by
its members.
It also was recalled in Wash
ington that the statement by a
former ambassador of Japan
that the passage of a japanese
exclusion amendment to an
immigration bill before the
Senate 10 years ago would have
grave consequences" led directly
to his recall-at the request of
the American Government. The
Senate at that time accepted the
ambassador challenge by adopt
ing the amendment forthwith,
accompanied by sternly patriotic
speeches.
Ambassador Saito was the guest
of honor and chief speaker at the
Inquirendo gathering. It de-
veloped today that he Is a per-
sonal favorite with members OF
the five year old organization,
made up largely Of lawyers, econo-
mists and a few journalists, limited
to so in number. At a previous
appearance before the club, last
winter, he discussed the naval
problem and Japanese-American
relations at length, and at that
time also submitted to cross
examination, in accordance with
a club practice. These discussions
are never published.
Says Hundreds Wrote Him
Ambassador Saito told The
Times today that letters protest.
ing against the naval maneuvers
and expressing the writer's good
will toward Japan have been
reaching him at the rate Of 10 a
day. He said several hundred
had reached him from all parts
of the country. The ambassador
picked up a handful that come
from Nebraska, Florida, Indiana,
New Hampshire, Utah and a score
of other States.
One letter, read by the ambassa-
dor, expressed deep humiliation
CONTINUED on Page 4, Col. ~