New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
JAPANESE COMPETITION.
HAVE AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS ANY
THING TO FEAR FROM IT?
THE NEGATIVE SIDE of'THE QUESTION TAKEN sY
MAN CoNvERsANT WITH TRADE REbA-
TONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE
UNITED STATES.
tsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUSsl

UNITED STATES.
lsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSsl
Washington Feb. ia man long resident in
Japan and in every way competent 10 discuss inc
various phases OF trade relations between the TWO
countries said 10 The Tribune correspondent to-
day:
The question whether the nufacturers OF THIS
country have good cause to fear japanese oompeu-
ton has been brought prominently TO pubic hot''e
hy the testimony Of Representatives, fearCe oe
fore the WAYS and Means Committee. recently pup
ushed IN The Tribune The question is not new
one: It has been propounded and answered before
notably in California, where there IL natural ten-
dencv TO look askance upon all things oriental
Ever since the close OF the Japanese-Chinese war
exaggerated reports of Japans Industrial progress
and alleged unlimited capabilities as manulac'ui-
ing country have gained circulation. and IN some
quarters at least. partial credence. This was the
case in San Francisco about a year ago whcn
committee was appointed to investigate the SUBJECT
The committee reported. in substance that Amerl-
can manufacturers have no reason to dread Japan"
csc competition. IT does not seen. reaSohapie' .''
IS II logical the report states, 10 suiPo'e ''
Japan has thus. meteor-like. sprung 10 'he "o"'
rank OF manufacturing countries at one oou'iu
England the greatest export ar OF manufacture III
rho world has reached supremacy through ~"
wears Of experience and aggressive pohoE' anu q"
would appear 10 this committee therefore 'ii"' wv
are anticipating the course OF events ny many
wear. in believing Japan capable o. ConPe"'e
with US
THIS COTNTRY'S TRUE POLICY.
ut was manifestly the opinion OF the san r ran
cisco committee that the true policy OF the On'teo
STATES as regarded Japan not 10 erect barriers
.,d safeguards against purely problcmaticaI dam
ear Nm, n endeayor TO win by Cancellation ana IN
telligent enterprise the share OF Japan Ndue 10
which This country IL rghtfuily entitled oo'n ny
reason OF geographical position ana It's own in"uS
trial capacities. Abiding 10 a proposed mee'hs OIL
che manufacturers Of the United States IN Chlcaeo
~. committee suggest that il would he good idea
~ consider at that meeting the question OF push
ing tho sale Of our manufactures in South America
japan China and other countries. Inc balance VI
trade to-day 1t goes on to say. with 'he Chi'eu
State. Is in favor of Japan. This Is entirely from
the fact Of our heavy imports OF tea and raw SILK
Yet with increasing consumption OF our cotton IN
Jaran and prospects of sao OF our manufactures
goods in that country, It is not without the bounds
Of possibility yet write the balance on the other
side With all these facts in view. your committee
;s Of the opinion that any untimely move taken at
this time which would antasonize our pest inter-
ests in Japan should be avoided
Mr. Pearce very evidently did not begin MS IN
xss.,sotions where the San Francisco committee
left off He started above, to speak. and the re-
suit Of his abors story almost precisely ldehu-
cal with that which formed the subject matter ol
the San Francisco inquiry. even down 10 the Us. VI
IN manufacture
JacarAse competition is TO be dreaded Inc san
Francisco committee probably as compeleh'
critics "a Mr. Pearce and view Of their Nerdlc'
the subject might very well be dropped. were II not
for the danger that. il not again coriradcted II
might lead 10 some action when "ouln lJ"o
American trade with Japan. AS Nation whose
commercial and Industrial capacity is practically
unlimited We are of course interested in creating
.rd maintaining every available outlet for our
natural and manufactured products rms Is
,sneciallv true OF the markets OF the Far East
where propinquity. united 10 good judgment must
IN time gain for preponderating commercial
influence II nothing is done 10 disturb 'he
unusually cordial relations have hitherto main
tanned there II is only the possibility that
those good relations may be affected by the al
,empt 10 guard against dangers partly, II not
wholly chinerical that lends weight TO the
statements made by MI feirce 10 uhe ways "i'N
Means Committee.
Mr. PF,ARCF,.s STATEMENTS CONTRACTED
yet It only needs the most superficial inVestiga-
Tim ~ rroye that American manufacturers nave
nothing 10 fear from Japan. even on Mr.. Pearces
own showing. He stated. III substance mat Japan
was or would become formidable competitor 10
this country in the manufacture OF SILK ana cotton
goods carpets. rugs and druggcts mating, Stra"
hats. shoes leather goods. trunks and handbags
>,,cry and surgical Instruments, chemicals ana
drugs brushes of ali kinds, clocks ana Watches
cabinet organs. steel vessels, engines. bronze pot
terry glass beads bicycles. bamboo ware, etc inns
seems a formidable list; its weakness Hes IN the
fact that il does not include single article OF Jap,
enese manufacture which can fairly be said TO come
into direct competition with any similar article OF
American manufacture. Moreover, many OF the
articles ii does enumerate, so far from being i'm
ported into this country from Japan. are not even
manufactured in Japan: or II manufactured in an
experimental and desutory way, can never be pro-
duced in sufficent quantities 10 compete success
fully even in Japan. with the foreign product. To
any one really acquainted with japanese manu-
features the mention Of clocks and watches, cab
met organs. steel vessels engines, cutlery ana
bicycles as exports from Japan. would seem fit oc-
cason for innocent harity. The report OF Japans
commerce with the United States for the last fiscal
year does not show that a single one OF these art-
cles WAS imported into the United States il Is safe
TO go further and 10 assert that II one ever was
manufactured in Japan. it may justly be regarded
as genuine rara avis All OF these things require
for their manufacture large capital, extensive
works. wide experience and many other conditions
which cannot be successfully brought together In
Japan for many years to come.
Take for example. the watch which Mr.. Pearce
exhibited 10 the committee proof of the
dangers TO be apprehended from cheap Japanese
competition. He said 1t so ~. IL the real
Story Of that watch was told, 1t would probably
he found 70 have cost many times that amount. II
not Mr.. Pearce. at least to certain deluded In
vesors IN Japan %nH snc 1 watches o
competition with the foreign article: They tried
The experiment and failed, as Ia shown by the
practically moribund condition Of the only manu-
Factory Of the Kind ever established IN Japan
Nor does Japan build steel vessels or engines for
export On the contrary. she imports them, as
witness the orders recently given for vessels of war
in this and other countries. and the additions 20
her mercantile marine which are constantly being
m ade abroad as well the large import from
this country Of engines and other machinery.
JAPAN DEPENDENT on OTHER NATIONS
The fact is that Japan for many years 10
come must depend upon other countries for her
supply OF articles OF this description Her people
do no, lack the ability 10 make them but they
lack the facilities and find IL cheaper. conse-
cuently 10 purchase abroad. AS 10 the other
ticles in Mr.. Pearce's list. a number may be dis