The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-20
That Indicates That Retaliation May
Follow Disregard.
Minister Torusoshi Files the Note of
Protest by the Japanese Govern
ment Against the Pending Tariff
1t Is Pointed Out That Proposed
Duties Will Affect Very lnjuri-
ousIy Many Japanese Products.

WASHINGTON, June 19.-The pro-
tests made by the japanese Government
against the pending tariff bill is formal
Iy embodied in a note from Minister
TorusoShi, under date of June Sd. The
protest is couched in the most courteous
language, but there is a firmness of tone
observable that indicates the remon-
STRANGE may be followed by acts of re-
taliation if disregarded.
The note begins with an apology for
expressing an opinion that under ordi-
nary conditions might be regarded as
trenching upon domestic affairs. but
cites as a justification the fact that i'm
portant Japanese interests are involved
and that in the opinion of the Minister
the proposed increase of duties will in
jure the United States no less than ia
pan by retarding the growth of prom
Using commercial relations. The most
productions that will be affected are
silk, silk handkerchiefs, jugs. carpets
and teas. In the case of the silks the
proposed duty will amount to an ad
valorem rate of 100 per cent, and upon
handkerchiefs the duty viii be 10 per
cent more. These rates, it is stated,
are practic ally prohibitory and bear
upon silks peculiar to Japan.
A prosperous trade has been built up
in japanese mattings, now admitted
free ard in general use among The
poorer SEES. The proposed duty, says
the Min will be so heavy that the
trade canny- 'urvive. In this article not
now manufactured in the United States
the duty on hemp, jute rags and car
pets will amount to nearly 80 per cent.
and this is another severe blow to Jap
anese commerce. AS to tea, the Minis
ter says the sudden change of the policy
of the United States from free importa-
ton to duty of from 30 to 100 per
cent has awakened in the japanese
mind the gravest fear for the stability
of the tea industry; for years it has
been in depressed condition, although
furnishing the greater bulk of tea i'm
ported into the United States.
The Minister says that while the Inn
perial Government does not share the
general belief that this legislation was
intended to discriminate against Japan
csc commerce, it is an unfortunate CO.
incidence, as the imports the most inju-
riously affected are specialt;es of Japan
production. In conclusion the Minister
says. AS l. nave ILcu lllC IlO1iOI W SlotCy
the Imperial Government is far from
sharing in a belief that the new tariff
does affect the cordial attitude always
held by the United States towards Jap
an but nevertheless they do not think
it either wise or prudent to ignore
sentiment which, under certain condi-
tons, might have a most unfOrI innate
effect upon the relations of the two
countries. They hope, moreover, that
it will not be forgotten that this feeling
may be attributed in some degree to the
fact that no article of American I'M
portation to Japan pays at present any
thing more than nominal duty and the
further circumstance that the Legisla-
ture of Japan has already signified its
intention of hereafter levying only a
moderate impCst upon American COM
MERGE"