The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-29

Americans are most particularly anu d.
rs-ctiy concerned. There has recently been
organized by The japanese government
What Is termed the high industrial coun-
eli or more properly. the high council OF
agriculture. commerce and industry X
consists of government officers. members
rf parIiament ard prominent business me7
appointed by the government Il has re-
Gently concluded its FIRST session the
practical nature OF its deliberations may
De seen from the following list OF questions
Submitted by the government for consia-
Grafton:
.sFIrst-Is Il not necessary 10 dispatch
experts 10 make Investigations for open
ing the navigation on ,ne river chung
kiang. IN China, on whose bank The ports
OF Sa-chih. Chang-kiang. chin. kiang,
Chiu-kiang. Woofoo. Hankow and lcfaaas
are situated.
-sSecond--what measures shall be taken
for extending the means OF Circulation
abroad
Thirds il not necessary 10 build
warehouses IN charge or customs houses
so that eonsignees Of cargo therein stored
may mortgage them for their convenience
'sEraursh-WAat measures shall BE taken
IN supplying the samples OF japanese
goods 10 foreign countries SD as 10 extend
their sale2
''Fifth-what steps are necessary for OBJ
taining Increased facilities for commercial
correspondence with foreign countries?
.tSixth-How can the marine insurance
business OF the country be extended 10
goods imported or exporteds
'sSeveath-To what extent and IN what
way shall laws be made to control and pro-
tect laborers. so as 10 maintain smooth
relations between labor and capital in the
faturer'
Not less significant were the utterances
Of some OF the leading speakers, who took
part in the discussions. Vlseount Enomo-
TO said:
AS there are stiil numerous products
TO be utilized AZ home. IL seems the peo-
pie DO not feel much the necessity OF ex-
tending their business abroad. But the
keen competition among the nations or
the world does not allow this country TO
remain in the state IL Is now. and time
is approaching requiring our utmost en-
beavers for opening various branches or
industry 10 compete with foreign coun-
tries IL goes without saying that, In Or
der 10 strengthen the basis OF agriculture.
commerce and industry at home, and 10
extend their scale. We must have markets
in all countries or the world But our
foreign trade is at present very inactive.
as you are we'll aware. and this council Is
bound 10 ascertain the causes OF the de-
preston. and md the means OF revivtng
and extending the commerce; As this
meeting has been convoked with such an
object | trust YOU Will not only give re-
plies on the questions submit TO you. but
will lay your views frankly with view
TO seeking proper measures for the enrich
menf OF the country at this important
epoch.
More weighty still were the words OF
Count ONuma, who is Just now perhaps
the most striking and influential figure in
Japanese politics. His speech as trans
lated from the Asahi for the Japan Daily
Gazette Of this city is as follows:
1t is only about a month since I was
sHasn4 49,. afsrrN 20 RS
and my appearance here today is quite
sudden, being uniformed as / am as TO
the latest affairs of this council am re-
quested 10 make speech, and though the
extension OF commerce IS the aim or the
council. as has been declared by the MIN
lister for agriculture and commerce, am
really unprepared for ,-ie occasion. / viii.
however. not lose this opportunity to say
something TO You.
The department OF agriculture and
commerce was established in 1879, when
Marquis Ito was nome minister and /
finance minister. in consequence Of pro-
posal to transfer to a special office affairs
relating 20 agriculture, commerce and m
dustry, which had previously been divided
between the home and finance offices. The
object of the establishment was not, l
think, public then. and. though il VIII be
remembered by many OF you Il may not be
partnaent was established after the En-
glish system, and differed in many re-
spects from other administrative Offices
1t was then thought that the agricultural.
commercial and industrial administration
could not be conducted satisfactorily I'M
less some such council Ike this one, where
officials and business men can consult one
another. was formed. Various political
changes since then have hitherto prevent
ed the formation OF this council, and IL is
extremely gratifying 10 me TO see il now
actually opened. l trust X viii prove bene-
fetal to the agriculture, commerce and In
dustry Of the country.
agriculture, commerce and industry
are respectively of very wide spheres. and
1t is not easy 10 understand them thor
oughly for an outsider. | understand.
however. from the address just now read
by the minister for agriculture and COM
merce that the object of the present mee--
ing Is the development OF commerce. Cen
orally speaking, commerce accompanies
civilization. In an infant stage OF civil
ization. only agriculture is active; indus
try comes in at the next higher stage; and
commerce last Of all.
''AT the civilized countries OF the world
are now commercial countries. and IL is
commerce that Is so powerful as 20 gov
eru the whole world. England Is a COM
y
Japan be sooner or later. While agricult-
ure and Industry are local businesses. and
can be carried on according 10 a fixed pFin-
ciple, commerce. especially foreign trade,
has TO be conducted on a system based
on the observance Of all the worlds affairs.
and holds the power 10 guide agriculture
AMI Industry. /, as minister for foreign
affairs. being directly responsible for at
fairs relating TO foreign trade. IL is incum-
bent on me to say here something on such
trade. Foreign trade IS a subject OF
very wide scope and ccmplicate nature.
and Il is Impossible 20 dwell on Il fully in
a limited space OF time. In a sunmed-up
form. IL may be said that. as only four
decades have elapsed since the opening
OF the country, Japan's commerce Is stu
IN It's infancy. Japan. as she stood among
the nations OF the world for the first time
years ago. was passive In every respect.
In her foreign intercourse, education. or
ganization OF the army and navy. arming,
trade, etc, she was entirely passive True,
she y as on the active side IN revising her
treaties. and she sent abroad handful
OF experts and students; but. generally
speaking. she was on the passive side for
several decades. her progress within the
past forty years is indeed marvel and
she Is now more or less taking the active
side, either In diplomacy or other affairs.
Her people have acted very boldly IN con-
sequence OF the war with China Another
marvel is that her population increased
within the forty years past by some zen
millions. which rate is eTen greater than
Ia England and Germany. noted for their
rapid increase % population. With such
an increasing popula ton. Japan can hope
10 abandon her passive attitude entirely
10 a progressive one. Here, then, IS a
reason why the greatest weight should be
Tllacea uron foreign trade
ssIsuAa has ropy s#,+anss4 "a the stage