New-York tribune., 1873-01-18
JAPANESE POLICY TOWARD FOREIGN MA
TIONS.


TI0NS.
REVISION OF THE TREATIEs-AGGREssIvE RE-
CURRENTS OF FoREIGNERs-THE JAPANESE
FIRM FOR PROTECTIoN-TNsoLENCE OF Ex-
TERRITORIAL Observation-Disclosures
OF CHRISTIANITY.
IFROX THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl
YEDo, Dec. s.-As the time for the revision
OF the treaties gradually draws the attention oil
the foreign community begins to itself upon the ques
ton of what terms 10 he made with the japanese
Government under the aud reorganized cohui.ion
OF affairs what fresh concessions shall DO denanu'
what additional restrictions upon native rights
and what methods OF reasserting tne suPeiioii" -
Europeans and Americans 70 thes laws ana cuS'o~ v
the country shall be introduced. That the 'aIH"o'
have any CLAIMS the matter does not up
near at present 10 enter into the calculations Ina"
they may put forward certain requsltions VI '"0 '
| and that these acquisitions may DC III S"A'.
lenently tolerated, perhaps generously Sieiueu w.
is looked upon as probable bu' 'no e,
| burden of public speculation is no' uireo'eu
.1 ,,bo+ the Government OF the empire may
reorira and decree but 10 what the foreign
commercial and diplomatic community may DC usposeu
70 ordas on the hand and admit on the other is
one of the curious features OF the reatons
tbe temporary residents in the few open ports ana the
ontborities of the nation that the former not only
act as II they believed, but they really do believe that
tbe despies of these islands dyney delegated to
their control The supreme conviction Of the corps of
foreign representatives is that their special function is
II may employ the only phrase which exactly fits the
si,pation-to "run" Japan. Hardly month passes
hnt some new and unconscousy humorous evidence OF
this curious deusion asserts ITSELF II the Japanese for
example have occasion refer obsolete and time
outlawed convention, the ambassadors with great
soIemnty send word that Government is perfectly
at liberty to put its construction upon the docu-
meut provided will ask permission OF the united body,
and so forth at which the officials laugh in their sleeves
and II is fortunate that the seevesl are ample, in
view of the quantity Of furtive dersion which
they have to conceal in this way II great social re-
form is proclaimed like that OF the abolition OF prosttu-
ton by contract 1t is hailed not as proof OF determina
ton to amend the moral condition Of whole people,
but as concession 20 the prejudces Of half handful
OF meddesome outsiders The very regulation respect
ing the clothing OF the common laborers is TRANQUILITY
acknowledged as measure of relief to the wounded
prudishness OF the little communities Of Yokohama,
Kobe and hamlet is Of similar dimensions These are
merely stray examples of the spirit by which foreigners
in general are animated. "They are but parts OF stu
pendous whole" Nothing is more natural then that
upon the larger subject which is now impending, they
should entertain kindred halucnations 1t is no exag-
geraton to say that in all the discussions to which
gives RISE not word Is heard respecting what the
Japanese may design execute but only conectures or
declarations of what we the people OF France England
Germany, America land the lesser tribes shall deter
mine and declare.
TARIFF AND COMMERCIAL QUESTIONS.
Among the various topics which are thus cavalerly
treated three obtained especial prominence; and
of these at least worthy of little close atten
ton First OF all the question OF the tariff with
its collateral commercial ofshoots That the duties
ought 10 be reduced altogether abolished is the con-
yeticn of the mass OF the mercantile community That
they shall not increased and that trade shall be VIZ
tuslly Free is their resolve And with singular nfatua
ton they appear be thoroughly satisfied that their
decision will inevitably carry the day. lit ever occurs TO
any of them that the japanese have passed that period
of international infancy when the absurd tariffs Of the
original treaties were fastened upon them, they do not
admit the possibility Of the dearlybOught experience
being applied to this particular ISSUE They refuse to
recognize the fact which patent TO unnterested
eyes any of the advanced positions recently assumed
by the Administration that the financial faith Of the
nation is unalterably fixed upon theory OF
high protection. In exact proportion to their present
uDwilngness 20 admit the existence OF this feeling
will be their disappointment when the resolution Of the
Government shall be revealed. Then, a matter Of
course Will the familiar Outcres Of relapse into
barbarism defiance of the spirit Of the age suspen
sion Of the free interchange Of civilization, all OF which
we know by heart and repeat Ofband by the yard
am happy TO say that do not think the erces Of these
denunciaons will from America. so far as am in
formed the merchants of the United States here resi-
dent admit at least in theory, the right and the expe
dIency of protective and in OF need prOhbitve
system Of customs. To my mind 1t seems incredible
that any candid and impartial observer-the traders, Of
course are not candid and impartial except in in
stancescan hold doubt to the prOpriety not TO say
the necessity of the speedy adoption of
measures that may required to meet the emergencies
of the time.
You are doubtless aware that the present rate OF i'm
port and export duties is actually insufficient in many
places to pay the expenses OF the local administration
of customs-a very suggestive circumstance by the bye
for adj al Orpn
ports Nothing would be simpler, and nothing could be
iuster than to this steady loss into abundant
gain And IL revenue is not speedily obtained In this
or some other effective way, there danger OF conse
ouences which friend of this country desires to con-
template The wealth which it possesses Is not OF kind
which under present circumstances can be proftably
exchanged for the immense supplies Of foreign material
which it is introducing 1t Is no secret that'although
the ultimate of the nation are doubtless su
cent for any conceivable need its current income Is by
no means equal 10 its exhausting outlays The aug
entaton of the tariff will only to relieve the
immediate embarrassment, but WILL by assisting ma
tona development open and certain roads TO pros
perity In the future. All industries, except those which
have been required for the support Of the people since the
empire began to exist are IN the cradle. To secure
the growth Of Others protection is absolutely indis-
uensable Whatever diverses ofvDpinon may exist In
regard TO the application Of this principle In other lands
do not see how it's expedieney with any show Of
reason be disputed here For centuries japan had no
wants OF desires which could not be supplied from its
own resources The sudden opening OF the country to
foreign influences and the rapid cultivation Of foreign
ideas have created host Of demands which, for the
present can only be satisfied from without The single
matter Of clothing furnishes example, The army and
the navy and still greater number Of private citizens
are now using wooen garments Of various kinds, and
leather shoes are becoming almost universal in the
large cities. With regard to shoes, the Government has
found 1t desirable 10 facilitate their manufacture by
removing the social disabilities under which the work
ers in hides formerly rested; bat it need hardly be
said that all sorts OF leather wares can be
sold here by foreign dealers with enormous profits