Evening star., 1939-03-24
Tribute Paid Soito
PIeuses japanese
Believes Gesture Of Courtesy
Will Improve Relations
Between Jupon dnd U. S.

VIII Improve NeIutsOnS
Between Jopon und U. S.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In life, Hiroshi Saito was the Ambas-
sador from Japan to America. In death,
he is the Ambassador from America to
japan. Today, on March 10, he starts
on his second mission on board the
U. 8. cruiser Astoria from Annapolis.
President Roosevelt's noble and vel
come decision to send on the cruiser the
ashes of the late Ambassador Saito to
Japan is at once quite unprecedented
and highly significant; unprecedented
because of the status of the diplomat
when he passed away, significant be-
cause the move will not fail to exercise
the most salutary effect on the Japa-
nese mind and, therefore, on the present
somewhat strained American-Japanese
relations. In his hearty response. Mr..
Arita, foreign minister in Toxic. ex-
pressed his appreciation of the Presi-
dents offer with these words: Mr..
Saito died after he had ceased to he
Ambassador. Americas offer in these
circumstances was due not only to Presi-
dent Roosevelt's personal regard for Mr..
Saito, but also to Americas for Japans
representative"
At this juncture, it is appropriate to
reflect briefly on the japanese attitude
toward America during the present
Chinese crisis, before dealing with AM
vvoicciro With
clear conscience, the leaders in Japan
had implicit belief in the Righteousness SIS
of their cause Therefore, they hoped
that America would remain neutral in
sentiment as we'll as in law. However,
they soon found out that the sentiments
toward an 'underdog" on the part of
American people-which the Japanese
can appreciate from their experience
during the Russo-Japanese War-prcved
to be too overwhelmingly against Japan.
In the meantime, the Presidents
earlier statement that Chinese affairs
were IAN awful mess" and Americans
should get out of it" provoked the Wig
orous protests from the American SYM
pathizers at home as well as from the
various American organizations in
China. Perhaps, the Presidents speech
at Chicago on October S, 1887, on
"quarantining the aggressor," or to that
effect, was as much influenced by in
ternal reasons as by external.
Whatever it may be, at this unique
pronouncement, the Japanese came to
the conclusion that the Americans re-
fused to give fair hearing to them.
Even many Americaphiles in Japan,
who could be numbered among the
members of the Privy Council and both
houses of the Diet, as well as high
officials of the foreign office, became
quite dormant and lapsed into pro-
verbal taciturnity because they real
ized that in President Roosevelt they
lost the last American authority to whom
they could appeal for wise counsel, If
not mediation. The lengthy and pain
full statement to the Brussels Confer
ence made by the Japanese government
about three weeks after the Presidents
speech was directed as much to the
American Government as to the con-
ference. Therefore, it can be viewed
as an index to the psychology of the
Japanese leaders, whose disillusionment
was beyond doubt.
Since then, because of the anomalous
state resulting from the juxtaposition
of the powers in China, many disagree
able incidents took place between Amer
lea and Japan. Among them, there
was the most unfortunate case of the
Panay. During these trying moments,
Ambassador Saito worked indefatigably
which taxed him to the full capacity of
his rather frail constitution. Indeed
in the eulogistic words of Secretary
Hull, "the problems which have arisen
taxed his failing strength to degree
which may have hastened his untimely
passing"
Now, the friendly gesture on the part
of President Roosevelt literally electrified
the whole Japanese nation. BY his sin
gle act of courtesy, the President, as it
were, vindicated himself in the eyes Of
the host of Americaphiles in Toxic in
one sense, and, in another his benevo-
lence proved to be veritable spring
shower to make this group revive from
its dormancy and articulate itself again.
A few years ago, on balmy evening
in early spring, the annual cherry BIOS
som festival in Washington was graced
by Mrs Roosevelt with her presence.
At this occasion, the versatile Ambassa-
dor made most memorable speech on
the significance of "sakura" and Japa-
nese life. Its exposition and rendition,
beautifully philosophic, superbly exqui-
site and full of poetic sentiment, will be
remembered perhaps as masterpiece
| and classic on the national flower Of
Japan in English language. After his
delivery, the Ambassador, in his con-
versation with the guest of honor, al
luded to the hazards in the culture of
cherry trees in comparison with the
vicissitudes in the maintenance of good
relations between America and Japan.
1t was reported that both his beautiful
sentiments and his devotion to the cause
OF international understanding had
moved the First Lady of the land to tears
OF appreciation and admiration. Indeed,
American-Japanese friendship was his
passion.
So far as I know. Ambassador Saito