Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
DIVISION OF INTERCOURSE AND EDUCATION
Publication No. 15

THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE MISSION

1917

A Record of the Reception Throughout the United States
of the Special Mission Headed by Viscount Ishii

TOGETHER WITH THE EXCHANGE OF NOTES EMBODYING

The Root-Takahira Understanding of 1908

AND

The Lansing-Ishii Agreement of 1917

Foreword by Elihu Root

WASHINGTON, D. C.
1918

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FOREWORD

Both Japan and America owe a real debt to Viscount Ishii and his associates for the way in which they discharged the duty of their recent Mission to America. Only a full and just comprehension of American character and points of view enabled this distinguished Japanese statesman to deliver his message of friendship acceptably to varied audiences in many cities, and, passing beyond the formal expressions of international courtesy, to say many serious things of substance and moment regarding the delicate and sometimes difficult relations between the two countries without sounding a false note or ever jarring the sensibilities of his hearers. After this no one can maintain that the differences between the East and the West in character and in ways of thinking and feeling need prevent an Eastern and a Western nation from understanding each other well enough to establish a sincere and helpful friendship upon the basis of mutual appreciation and confidence. There have been misunderstandings between the people of Japan and the people of the United States. The people of each country have had vague and mistaken impressions about the purposes and motives of the other country. Many things have been said and printed, and some things have been done under the influence of these misunderstandings and tending to increase them. This does not apply to the two governments. Nothing could be more frank and considerate and friendly than the relations between them. They have not misunderstood each other because they have had the means and the wish to inform themselves, and they have understood and trusted each other.

But in these times peoples and not governments determine what international relations shall be, and among the effects of the Great War already manifest is a continually strengthening tendency towards the increase of this popular control of international affairs. The world will be vastly the gainer by the change from the old methods of diplomacy, but the change brings its own dangers. The central vice of the old system of diplomacy in camera has been the control of secret selfish policies of aggrandizement in which the interests of the popular mass play little or no part. The danger of popular diplomacy rests in popular misunderstanding of national rights and duties, and the suspicions and resentment and violent impulses resulting from popular misunderstanding. Trained diplomats usually understand the merits of the controversies in which they are involved, because it is their business to inform themselves; but there are serious difficulties in the way of such an understanding by the whole people of any country. The great body of the people seldom take an interest in any foreign question until there is some excitement about it. Before the excitement it is hard for those who know the facts and the law to get a hearing, and after the excitement has come it is apt to be too late. It is very difficult for the public to test the correctness of statements about the facts and the legal rights on which international controversies depend, and they are accordingly liable to be misled by misrepresentation, sometimes by mistaken ignorance and sometimes with a malicious purpose. Such a purpose acquiring control of a few newspapers may do infinite harm in the relations between two countries which have no real reason whatever for any feeling towards each other but confidence and friendship. Sometimes the misleading motive is in a demagogue who seeks office or fortune through public assaults upon foreigners, and sometimes it is in the policy of nations who wish to enhance their own power by promoting discord among others.

Among the maxims which Frederick the Great left for the guidance of his successors are these:

If possible, the powers of Europe should be made envious against one another, in order to give occasion for a coup when the opportunity arises.

I understand by the word Policy that one must make it his study to deceive others. That is the way to get the better of them.

Form alliances only in order to sow animosity.

It is apparent that the policy thus expressed and always followed by the reigning house of Prussia has been applied to mislead the peoples of Japan and the United States and to make trouble between the two countries.

In a situation which involved such elements of difficulty Viscount Ishii has applied the force of high intelligence at precisely the right point. The novelty of his undertaking attracted popular attention. The frankness and charm of his expression awakened kindly interest, and the authentic character of his statements carried conviction. The speeches he made and the responses they elicited have been of the highest value to both countries. Taken as a whole, they constitute a great event in international history, and their influence will be long continued. To contribute towards that end by preserving the speeches and responses in permanent and accessible form this volume is printed.

ELIHU ROOT.
February 8, 1918.

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CONTENTS

FW	FOREWORD By ELIHU ROOT
I.	THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE MISSION
01	Formation and Personnel
II.	A HALT AT HONOLULU
02	Welcome by Governor Pinkham
03	Viscount Ishii's Reply
III.	ON THE PACIFIC COAST
04	At the City Hall
05	Secretary Lansing's Telegram
06	Citizens' Committee Luncheon
07	Municipal Banquet
08	Viscount Ishii's Dinner
IV.	AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
09	Welcome to Washington by Secretary Lansing
10	Viscount Ishii to the Press
11	At the White House
12	A Visit to Annapolis
13	At Washington's Tomb
14	Viscount Ishii on his Mission
15	Reception by the Secretary of State and Mrs. Lansing
16	At the Navy Yard
17	Before the United States Senate
18	Before the House of Representatives.
19	Dinner at Graystone
V.	PHILADELPHIA'S WELCOME
20	Ambassador Morris's Welcome
21	Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
22	Symposium of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
VI.	AT COMMODORE PERRY'S GRAVE, NEWPORT, R. I .
23	Tribute to the American who Opened Japan 64 Years ago
24	Reception and Address at the Casino
VII.	HONORED GUESTS OF BOSTON
25	At the State House
26	Municipal Dinner
27	Harvard University
28	Boston City Club Luncheon
29	Motor Trip over Historic Ground
VIII.	GERMAN PROPAGANDA IN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN
30	Viscount Ishii's Address to the National Press Club
31	Progress of the Diplomatic Conversations
IX.	NEW YORK---I
32	Mayor Mitchel's Proclamation
33	Parade and Reception at the City Hall
34	Up Fifth Avenue---The 69th Regiment
35	Sightseeing
36	Chamber of Commerce Reception and Luncheon
37	At the Tomb of General Grant
38	Dinner Given by Mayor Mitchel and Executive Committee
39	Japan Society's Reception
40	A Trip to West Point
X.	NEW YORK---II
41	Municipal Banquet
42	Address of Former President Taft
43	The Open Door
44	A Day with Japanese Compatriots
45	Dinner Given by Japanese
46	Luncheon at the Bankers' Club
47	Oswald Garrison Villard's Dinner
48	A Visit to Theodore Roosevelt
XI.	HOMEWARD BOUND
49	A Message of Gratitude from the Coast
50	A Word of Reassurance from Hawaii
XII.	VISCOUNT ISHII'S TRIBUTE TO AMERICA
51	The Emperor's Message of Thanks to President Wilson
	APPENDICES
A.	The Root-Takahira Exchange of Notes, 1908
B.	The Lansing-Ishii Exchange of Notes, 1917
Photo	Viscount Kikujiro Ishii

I. The Imperial Japanese Mission