CHAPTER LXXXVII
.
PEACE ASSURANCES FROM JAPAN.
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ASSURANCE FROM VISCOUNT KENTARO KANEKO, THE EMINENT STATESMAN OF JAPAN, THAT BELLIGERENT REPORTS ARE GROUNDLESS.
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FABRICATIONS, HE SAYS, OF SENSATIONAL NEWSPAPERS.
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NO APPREHENSION IN EMPIRE OF ANY DISRUPTION OF FRIENDSHIP EXISTING BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.
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Declaring that all talk of trouble between this country and Japan is the outgrowth of “pernicious fabrication on the part of sensational newspapers,” Viscount Kentaro Kaneko, who was special Ambassador to the United States from Japan during the Russian-Japanese war, has written a reply to a letter addressed him by me, in which the latter, under date of December 5th, last, expressed the hope that no difficulties might arise between the two countries which could not be readily and amicably adjusted.
Viscount Kaneko, whose elevation to his present title and whose appointment as adviser to the Emperor on all things American, came close upon the heels of the close of the struggle with Russia, besides is one of the present eminent Statesmen of the Empire. During General Grant’s first term, he was a member of a commission sent here to study American finance. Prince Ito was the head of this commission and I acted as friendly adviser, at the request of General Grant, then President. This commission afterwards went to London, Paris, and Berlin, and made a similar investigation of the financial systems of each of those nations, and on their return home, via the Suez Canal, they made a full report of their mission and in it strongly recommended their government to adopt the American system, which was promptly done, and I was appointed by the Japanese Government special agent to aid in carrying out their new financial system. I awarded the contract for the engraving to the Continental Bank Note Co., of New York, on their successful competitive bid, and after all the work of establishing their new financial system was accomplished I received a flattering commendation from the Secretary of the Japanese Treasury for my services in the matter and a very handsome pair of Japanese silver vases as a souvenir accompanied same.
My letter, which was sent when reports of impending trouble with Japan were numerous, is as follows:
December 5, 1907.
MY DEAR VISCOUNT:
It gives me infinite pleasure to congratulate you on the bestowal of your present very great title by the Emperor, knowing as I do that it is so richly deserved. No one in this country can bear stronger testimony of your untiring vigilance and masterly efforts in the work you had on hand in this country during your war with Russia, and the marvelous success which crowned your exertions. No one of your nation who has visited this country made more or stronger friends than you did amongst our people, and we are all hoping that the time will come when you will return as Ambassador. It would indeed be an appointment for the benefit of both nations, and would do more than anything I can think of to strengthen the long-existing friendly relations between the two peoples. There are occasional rumors of our relations being strained, but they originate, I am quite sure, in either Russia or Germany, owing to a desire in some quarters to disrupt the friendship. You can rely upon one fact, however, that if there is ever a severance, which God forbid, it will not emanate from this side.
Faithfully yours, HENRY CLEWS.
VISCOUNT KANEKO’S ANSWER.
MY DEAR MR. CLEWS:
Your kind letter of December 5th reached me a few days ago and I am infinitely obliged to you for your hearty congratulation on my recent advancement to a higher rank for a modest service which I was able to render my Emperor and country during the late war. In performing the duties which were entrusted to me during my sojourn in your country, what little I was able to accomplish was due to the kind encouragement and assistance which the friends in America so unsparingly gave me. and in this connection I assure you that you share the largest part of it.
You mentioned about the so-called strained relations between America and Japan. It is really a pernicious fabrication of sensational newspapers, and I am glad that you seem to believe it to be so too. So far as I am aware there is nothing of a serious nature diplomatically pending between the two countries. It is absolutely groundless, therefore, even to imagine, as some alarmists would have us believe, that there may be a possible disruption of the friendship which has been cemented so firmly ever since this country was introduced by America to the family of civilized nations in the world. I assure you that every one of our people on this side of the Pacific is keenly alive to the gratitude we owe you, and I think it most remarkable that nobody in this empire seems to entertain, even to the slightest degree, any apprehension of a breach of the friendship. Such a thing never comes into our head. Again thanking you for your courtesy,
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) KENTARO KANEKO.
TOKYO, JAPAN, January 21, 1908.
I have kept up a correspondence with Prince Ito and other Japanese Statesmen ever since I was first associated with them thirty-seven years ago. The letter from the Viscount spoke for itself and showed the utter nonsense of sensational reports.
I also wrote to Marquis Ito about the war rumors as follows:
December 5, 1907.
MY DEAR MARQUIS:
Notwithstanding the frequent rumors that have of late sprung up, both in this country and Europe, to the effect that the long-existing friendly relations between Japan and America are becoming strained, I think I am in a position to know that there is not the slightest foundation therefor, so far as we are concerned. There has been, however, a vicious motive in their circulation, and it is quite dear to my mind that they have had their origin in, and are disseminated by people in Russia and Germany, the wish being father to the thought. For some reason or other they seem particularly anxious that the pleasant relations existing between our two countries should be weakened, and finally severed, hence the strenuous efforts in that direction. I feel quite sure, however, that there is not the slightest possibility of such a contingency.
To show how false these rumors are, as well as to cement the friendship which now exists between our countries (which you and I know to be real and lasting) and to put an end to the jingo talk of the press both here and in Japan, would it not be an excellent idea for the Emperor to formally invite the Admiral and Commanders of our fleet, which is to cruise in the Pacific waters, to meet him at some convenient seaport in your country? I know that the American people would appreciate such an honor and that the greeting they would receive from your countrymen would banish all thought of a disruption of our pleasant relations. The Yankees of the West respect and admire the Yankees of the East, and every effort should be made to increase the harmony which now prevails.
Hoping, my dear Prince, that you are enjoying good health and happiness, I remain
Faithfully yours,
HENRY CLEWS.
MARQUIS ITO, TOKYO, JAPAN.
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FLEET TO VISIT JAPAN.
INVITATION ACCEPTED.
NEW PROOF OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.
_Official Statement from Washington, March 20._
The American battleship fleet is to visit Japan. The desire of the Emperor to play host to the “Big Sixteen” was expressed to Secretary Root yesterday by Baron Takahira, the Japanese Ambassador. The invitation, which was in the most cordial terms, was considered by President Roosevelt and the Cabinet to-day. Secretary Root was directed to accept the invitation, and the acceptance was communicated to Baron Takahira this afternoon.
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## CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN.
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DECORATES HENRY CLEWS WITH THE ORDER OF COMMANDEUR OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF THE RISING SUN—ON THE INSIGNIA IN JAPANESE LETTERS IS “KUN-KO-SEI-SHO”—WHICH MEANS “EXALTED MARK OF MERITS AND SERVICES.”
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LETTER FROM VISCOUNT KANEKO.
_New York Tribune_, March 21, 1908.
TOKYO, March 23, 1908.
MY DEAR MR. CLEWS:
Please accept my heartiest congratulation on the new honor which has been added to your already distinguished life by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, who was pleased to confer upon you the Imperial Decoration, in recognition of your valuable service to this country. In due time, I know, Ambassador Takahira in Washington will officially present it to you. I hardly need say how gratefully I am appreciating your kind friendship which enabled me to perform whatever was entrusted to me, though to a very modest extent, during my sojourn in your land in 1904-1905. And in this connection, I assure you that I now look back, with much feeling, to those pleasant times I had with you in America. I sincerely hope that our next meeting will soon be in this country where your special interest in us is already so greatly appreciated, as is shown in the recognition which has been given you by the Emperor this time.
With my renewed assurance of the warmest regards to yourself, and hoping that this will find you well, I remain,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) KENTARO KANEKO.
MR. HENRY CLEWS,
NEW YORK CITY.
COPY OF LETTER TO VISCOUNT KENTARO KANEKO.
April 25, 1908.
MY DEAR VISCOUNT:
I am in receipt of your most highly appreciated letter of March 23d, for which I cordially thank you; and I am daily expecting to be honored by receiving the Imperial Decoration which you state is to be conveyed by Ambassador Takahira. Upon its receipt I will formally express my gratification to his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, for the great honor conferred.
If Japan were nearer to New York I might be able to promise that our next meeting would be in your own country—the Land of the Rising Sun—but as you have achieved so much good for Japan, in the United States, I doubt not that business, or international diplomacy, of which you are one of the masters, will bring you here again, when, I assure you, you will be received with the honor and respect which your distinguished services and your high personal character entitle you to expect.
With assurances of the highest regard and friendship for you and your countrymen, I have the honor to remain,
Very sincerely yours,
HENRY CLEWS.
VISCOUNT KENTARO KANEKO,
TOKYO, JAPAN.
CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN.
60 WALL STREET, NEW YORK CITY, April 27, 1908.
ESTEEMED SIR:
Referring to the official dispatch of even date, I take liberty to ask you to appoint some afternoon in the near future which will be convenient for you to receive me at your home or elsewhere when I will have the honor and pleasure of carrying out the important mission of presenting you with the distinguished mark of honor. With kind regards,
Yours very respectfully,
(Signed) K. MIDZUNO.
MR. HENRY CLEWS,
630 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY.
I named Sunday, May 3d, at half-past one o’clock, at my residence, 630 Fifth Avenue, and invited a large number of friends to luncheon, which made the occasion a most enthusiastic and enjoyable one.
The Honorable Kokichi Midzuno, said: Mr. Clews, acting under the instructions of His Excellency Count Tadasu Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have the honor to inform you that His Imperial Majesty, the Tenno of Japan, my August Sovereign, as a special token of Imperial good will, has graciously been pleased to confer upon you the decoration of Commandeur of the most distinguished order of the Rising Sun, and I have the honor to present to you the said decoration. In performing this most pleasant duty, I deem it my privilege to avail myself of this occasion to tender my hearty congratulations and to convey to you, Esteemed Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
Which was replied to by me as follows:
MR. MIDZUNO:
In receiving at your hands under the instructions of His Excellency Count Tadasu Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Empire of Japan, the decoration of Commandeur of the most distinguished order of the Rising Sun, bestowed upon me by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, as a special token of his good will, I respectfully acknowledge my high appreciation of the honor, and shall always value the distinction as one of the greatest that could be conferred upon me. I shall ever regard it not alone as a flattering compliment to myself, and a recognition of such services as I have been able to render, but as an emblem of the friendly relations that bind Japan and the United States together in a bond of sympathy; and I trust that this tie of friendship will never be weakened. I at least will always endeavor to strengthen it.
I have long been intimately conversant with the affairs of Japan, and been deeply and sympathetically interested in the rapid and wonderful development of the Empire, and all the more so in consequence of my good fortune in having had the personal acquaintance, while they were in New York, of those two distinguished Japanese Statesmen, who are now Prince Ito and Viscount Kentaro Kaneko. Moreover, the correspondence that has passed between us since their return to Japan has only quickened my regard, and heightened my admiration for them and their Country. Both have proved themselves great in peace as well as war, and may the light of the Land of the Rising Sun never grow dim, and America and Japan be joined by their mutual interests in unbroken peace and concord forever.
With many thanks to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, for this great honor, and to His Excellency Count Tadasu Hayashi, as well as yourself, for your courtesy in the fulfilment of your duties, and for the evidences of your personal friendship for me, which touches me deeply, I assure you that my appreciation cannot be expressed in words.
This symbol of the Rising Sun indicates the coming of the day of greatness of your nation, and my fervent hope is that darkness may be unknown in your land.
In the midst of our festivities to-day there is a cloud, and I desire to express my deepest sympathy to the people of Japan in the loss of so many young lives in the disaster which visited them during the past week. Though dead, these young men still live as an example to others that a life given to country in time of peace deserves the same lasting glory as though given in battle.
I then requested the ladies and gentlemen to fill their glasses and rise and drink to the health of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan.
The Consul General of Japan answered the toast as follows:
MR. CLEWS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
As the local representative of Japan, I have the pleasure and honor to thank you for the toast to His Imperial Majesty, proposed by our esteemed Host and so heartily joined in by you all. It is high honor as well as great pleasure that I was in a position to personally present that high mark of honor to Mr. Henry Clews. But what makes me most happy is that this came in most opportune time, when the international horizon which was said to be more or less clouded for some time has become clear—so clear that even the yellowest journals of this country which are sparing no efforts to stir up anti-Japanese feeling among American people, can no more find any meteorological item for a pessimistic weather forecast. Now that all transient and incidental questions between your country and ours have been settled in an amicable way, now that your government, on behalf of your people, have gladly accepted our invitation to
## participate in the Grand Exposition to be held in Japan in 1912,
and now that my fellow countrymen in Japan have most pleasant anticipation to welcome the officers and men of your mighty fleet of battleships in our beautiful ports, I hope and trust that the most friendly relations between two nations, which have existed and are happily existing, will be an everlasting one.
In conferring upon you, Mr. Clews, that high mark of honor which I have just had the pleasure to present, His Majesty is reflecting the friendly feeling and unfeigned affection that fifty millions of His faithful subjects entertain toward the people of this great Republic for their kind guidance and unshaken sympathy shown to Japan and her people from the time when your great Commodore knocked at the door of our Island Empire to invite its secluded people to the comity of nations down to the present day, not to speak of the most trying time Japan passed through a few years ago, and their gratitude for the most valuable service rendered by American people to effect the termination of hostilities and restoration of peace through the far-sighted, active, and able good offices of your great President, whose toast I beg to propose.
My acknowledgment by letter of the honor conferred upon me:
May 2, 1908.
DEAR SIR:
Please convey to his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, my sincere thanks for bestowing upon me, as a token of his good will, the Imperial decoration of Commandeur of the most distinguished order of the Rising Sun. No words of mine can fitly express my high appreciation of this honor, and I shall always value the distinction as one of the greatest that it has been my good fortune to achieve. I consider it a symbol of the friendly relations existing between Japan and the United States—a friendship which, I assure you, I shall endeavor to foster and promote to the best of my ability.
With many thanks to his Imperial Majesty for the honor conferred upon me, of which I am justly proud, and to your Excellency for your kind offices in my behalf, I have the honor to remain,
Most sincerely yours,
(Signed) HENRY CLEWS.
HIS EXCELLENCY COUNT TADASU HAYASHI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN.
The following letter from Prince, then Marquis, Ito is interesting as a part of the world’s history, and shows the feeling and friendship of that great statesman:
TOKYO, April 14, 1904.
DEAR SIR:
In answer to your letter of February 17th, let me first of all thank you most sincerely for the constant sympathy you have shown to our country’s cause. Your friendly efforts on the occasion of the Chino-Japanese war are still fresh in my memory and in the memory of all those who have heard of them. And, in general, the sympathetic attitude of public opinion of your country is a great encouragement to us in our faith that in fighting for our own future security and undisturbed enjoyment of the fruits of civilization, we are to a certain extent fighting also for the common cause of all. Just as you say, the supremacy of Russia in Corea would mean not only a constant menace to the very existence of our island empire, but would also mean the wholesale destruction of our commercial and industrial interests already legitimately vested there in the past, not to mention the loss of natural outlet for our expanding people. The constant policy of Russia in this part of the globe has steadily inclined toward monopolization of natural resources of the country she conquers and annexes. Her Manchurian policy is the irrefutable evidence of the above statement. So that in fighting for our own interests we are at the same time fighting for the principle of “fair competition all around” in these new markets of the world. I am indeed very sorry that the negotiations carried on on our side, with sincere “bona-fide,” were not crowned with success so earnestly desired. If the Russian Government were a little more inspired by the spirit of moderation and of toleration for the legitimate interests of others things would not have come to this pass. As it was, there remained no other way for us but to try to enforce by arms what we could not do by reason. And we had to do so ere it would have become too late, for Russia was steadily and rapidly augmenting her fighting forces available in this part of her empire, so that before long the sheer mass of her fighting power would have made it a folly for us to attempt to resist the unscrupulous march onward. It has been nothing but a coolly thought-out step in the cause of State necessity. And I am much gratified to see that you as well as the general public opinion of your country, have understood our motives in their true light.
Hoping that you are enjoying as robust a health as when I saw you last in New York, and also hoping to be able to see you again in no distant future,
I remain, yours sincerely,
(Signed) MARQUIS H. ITO.
HENRY CLEWS, ESQ.,
New York City, U. S. A.
The following article, which I wrote at the time for one of our leading magazines, contains matter which may be instructive to my readers:
May 24, 1904.
The success of the Japanese in the present war with Russia is due to their great zeal. What they undertake to do, they generally do with great earnestness of purpose, which calls forth sacrifice, energy, courage, and determination. The concentration of all these qualities is the basis of success in all undertakings whether large or small. The success of the Japanese is easily accounted for also by the fact that they love their Emperor as a people—they are willing to fight for him and to die for him, added to which, they are fatalists and are not afraid to face death on the battle-field, because they firmly believe that the next world is better than this, and therefore to die in a good cause, especially in fighting for the salvation of their country, secures a high and honorable position there. Against these characteristics, which back the Japanese in the present war, their antagonists, the Russians, fear their Emperor, and under the autocratic rule of the nation soldiers are very often put into the army through force and kept there. There is a vast difference, therefore, on the battlefield, in the fighting qualities of soldiers who are backed by love of their Emperor and soldiers who are backed by fear of their Emperor. Then again, the discipline of the Japanese soldiers is of a more intelligent and up-to-date order than that of the Russians. Each regiment in Japan is composed of 400 men with a captain in command who carries a sword. Their training provides that if anything should happen to the captain, and his sword should fall to the ground, it must be taken up on the instant by the next in rank, and if anything should happen to him, the next in rotation takes his place, and so on all the way through to the last man; and each man to the end of the 400 is capable of picking up the sword and commanding with it, which also means to continue the fight until the last man in each regiment is killed or disabled; in other words, the fight is never to be given up except by total extinction. As an evidence of the interest and earnestness of the Japanese people, it is customary, amongst the trades-people, whenever a family that they have been supplying with the necessaries of life is deprived of the father of the family, in consequence of his going to the war, to continue to supply all their needs the same as before and without sending any bill therefor. It is pretty difficult, therefore, for the Russians, notwithstanding that they so largely outnumber the Japanese, to whip such a determined, forceful people either on land or sea.
There is scarcely an important college anywhere in the world in which Japanese students are not to be found studying for all vocations, and they are bent upon acquiring the best and most up-to-date methods in all walks of life. Admiral Togo was educated at Annapolis, and the American, English, and Continental colleges have educated many of Japan’s best army and navy officers now engaged in the war.
The Japanese are not given much to invention, but they possess great discernment and discrimination; they know a good thing when they see it, and are very skilful in imitation. Fifty years ago, when Commodore Perry successfully negotiated for the opening of the Japanese ports, that nation’s intercourse with the outside world commenced. A few years thereafter a commission was appointed to frame a constitution. This commission visited all the great nations in pursuit of information. They familiarized themselves with the American constitution and the basis of the government of other nations; they culled the best from all and put it into their constitution. It took them seven years to accomplish it. When they made their report to the Emperor he accepted it without any modifications whatsoever, and notwithstanding the great changes that have taken place in that country in consequence of its growth and development, there has been no occasion up to this date to in any way change that document.
They also appointed thirty-five years ago a commission, with the present great statesman, Marquis of Ito, at its head, to visit the various nations with a view of obtaining the best information possible in order to establish a financial system. On their trip around the world to study the various foreign financial systems with a view of adopting one up to date for Japan, they first came to this country and brought official letters to General Grant, then President. General Grant turned them over to me to teach them our financial system. I posted them up thoroughly on our financial methods. They then went to England, France, and Germany, and returned to Japan via the Suez Canal. On their return, their report strongly favored the adoption of the American system. It was accepted by the Government, and their Secretary of the Treasury appointed me their agent to get up the engraving of their new currency and bonds, similar to those of the United States Government. I sent the phraseology and denominations of all our different demand notes and various bonds to them, and they transferred the same into their own hieroglyphics and sent them to me. I had the same beautifully steel engraved through the Continental Bank Note Company, who were the lowest bidders, in competition for the work. Since that time I have kept up a most interesting and exceedingly friendly acquaintance and correspondence with Marquis Ito, and his recent letter to me contained much of interest, as it gave most excellent reasons for Japan being involved in the present war, which he said was not from his country’s desire, but through necessity, as a matter of defense.
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