Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-19
SORE ON DINGLEY BILL
japanese Threaten to Retaliate by Shutting
Out American Petroleum.
Ahcv claim the Tariff on Silk VIII,
Give the Trade to French
Manufa cturers.

special telegram to the New York
nerAto from Tokyo, Japan, says:
Inc Dlngiey bill is a sore subject with tho
JAPANESE. why, ask the Japanese. with
very proper indignation, should our s,lk
handkerchiefs be taxed IS per cent. when
America cannot possibly hope to produce
suiicient TO supply the local demand? Tho
immaculate consequence will be, declare the
Japanese press, that French hantkercbiefs
maze OF Japanese silk can be put ON tbe
market In America more chesply than
those exported directly from Fukfn mr.
OSAKA In this empire. 1t is broadly rumor-
co and may be taken as a fact that Japan
VIII retaliate by placing restrictions on the
saIe OF American petroleuun-hifherto the
n,i,9 ~ EXPORT to Japan; that preference
the Tune OF writing in danger of being
ousteo from the field by American products.
mat the large trade in leather with san
a1an Sa viii go to Australia, Queensland
anu new south Wales for c7otce-for these
colonles have been wise enough to send
Hrst-class commissioners, supplied with
samples OF every needed commodity to
Japan, with the sole idea Of undermining
American trade with this empire.
Will injure American Interests.
The Dfngiey bill. In a word, If carried
through In Its proposed form, will seriously
ana eHectually njure American interests
In poth China and Japan. There is at the
time OF writing not more than 10 to Is
Genus dinerence per case between Batoum
lHusslan) Oil and the 115 degree fire test ex-
ports OF the Standard Oil Companv The
Japanese have time and again openly de-
cared In favor of American kerosene On
the other hand, the local agents Of the Ba-
toum OIL. Messrs. Samuel Samuels & Co.
import this commodity in specialize CON.
structed tank steamers = fourteen feet
steamers, with tonnage ranging from
3,AO TO 5,4OO. America stands now first on
the list OF consumers of Japanese manu-
features. This empire could flnd no appre
ciative market for it's tea and very few adj
mirers of its silks If the United States
should impose a prohibitive tariff, and yet,
In the lace OF this possibility, Japan would
place such restrictions on the sale of
American Oil that the trade would come to
an absolute standstill. 1t needs but a word
from the government organs to rouse the
people to a feeling Of indignation and sheer
unwlllingness to patronize American prod
ucts. The Ntchi Nichi Shimbun of Tokyo,
as well as the openly subsidized Tokyo
Shimpo, has already thrown out hints in
tfonal sentiment. and Instant appreciation
OF the slightest injury, the Japanese people
as whole would and will follow the lead
thus given.
What America Needs.
And why should-even under favorable
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS figure as the larg-
est consumer of japanese products while
she Is seventh or even eighth on the list of
exporters? Simply because our people do
not go to work in the right Way. We have
never had properly constituted commits
sion sent out here to Investigate matters
or to deal directly-and that is the sole way
In which they are approachable-with the
Japanese. We have no American daily
newspaper. while Great Britain Is locally
represented by twelve daily prints. We
have no Japanese edition Of any American
commercial publication. whereas Great
Britain has separate Japanese edition Of
the British Trade Journal which Is sown
broadcast the empire over. And, finally,
We have no properly constituted civil or
consular or diplomatic service out in the
far east. Our representatives are almost,
without exception, wholly ignorant of the
language and customs Of the people among
whom they are located. The fearfully un-
patriotic 'sspoils system" sheds disgrace on
our country abroad. We have to rely on
the questionably honest services Of native
interpreters and translators. most ludic-
rous misrepresentation often resulting.