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looking at what England has done in the Far East in connection with Japan, as I have related above, I cannot but say it resulted, as I said before, to the benefit of Japan, and of course we feel deeply indebted to the aid thus rendered by the British nation. I do not doubt but that much of this has been done out of kindness and with a sense of justice. But was this all? Was there not also something else behind? Upon looking at the map, it is easily seen why England had adopted her policy in the direction described. She has great commercial interests in the Far East, no small political ones as well. It is necessary to protect those interests. Although only some parts of the interests of the great empire lie in the Far East, she could not afford to lose those interests, any more than a man could afford to lose a part of his buildings, which loss might prove detrimental to the whole construction. These interests which she has to protect are identical with those of Japan. Japan has to do exactly the same thing as England in guarding and protecting her interest and safety. Such being the case, I venture to say that the treaty of alliance between England and Japan was, as I said before, the climax of long evolution, having for its basis the mutual interests of the two countries. So far this is a matter of plain fact as concerns the political aspect. There are, however, some attempts to discredit Japan in some quarters.

In the first place, it is said that Japan’s modern civilization is only outward, and that there is every possibility of a reaction setting in. Nothing can be further from the truth than this assertion. We have strenuously striven to civilize our country by assimilating ourselves with European methods and ideas in everything, and we have, I believe, succeeded to some extent. It has cost us many lives and much money. We have eaten Western apples and found them delicious, and we are not likely to give them up. We are even going to make further improvements, and so keep pace with those nations with whom we have friendly intercourse. Of the material side of the civilization which we have adopted, I can at once convince you that we shall not be likely to give them up. We have electric light in Japan; you will not doubt when I tell you that we shall never return to oil or wax. We have railways: do you think we can ever go back to walking? Shall we destroy the telegraph-wires and again employ messengers?

With regard to the mental parts of civilization, it may not be so easy to convince, but with us it is exactly the same. The introduction of Western civilization into Japan is not limited to its material side only. In laws, in science, in art, and in all the other branches of human activity, we have striven to introduce your ideas, just in the same degree as we have done in material objects. All this we shall never give up; they have