Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-06
JAPAN AND HAWAII
Cor tinued from First; Page.)

ly feeling of Japan teward the United
States in this connection.
Protests Against the Proposed Tariff
he replied: The japanese nation at
large, the bulk of whom are agriculturists,
mas not shown any signs cof discomfort
with the proposed tariff. But manufac-
tCrers. merchants and other residents in
the districts in which silk, tea and mat
tlhs are produced, are much disturbed
rave recently returned from a trip
through the south, visiting Shizuola, Osa-
ka' hoiee and kioto, the districts noted
ZOE SILK and tea, and the discomfort in
'hese sections Is great. Since japan was
introduced, so to speak, to the civilized
world. by the United States. and since at
the ume OF the restoration japan was
Iareeiy assisted by the American minister.
nr. Townsend Harris, and since the trade
feiatlons or the two countries are SO ex-
teLslVe that between one-third and one
Iourth OF our entire exports goes to TIE
United States, naturally a very friendly
Ieenng mas been entertained by japan to-
Ward the United States, and our exporters
10 America were anxious to increase the
imports from that country in return for
arucles bought from us. Largely through
the efforts of these men the imports of
sucn products as iron, locomotives, tim
per- hour, kerosene oil and cotton have
largely increased and would continue to
increase even faster in the future if the
conditions were unchanged. The imports
OF cotton alone directly from the United
states promise soon to equal the value
OF SILK exports to the United States from
Japan. In the same spirit Japanese line
OF steamers runs to Seattle in the United
states. Another, with steamers now build
ing, will run to San Francisco These lines
have not only the object of encouraging
exports from Japan, but imports from the
United States to Japan. But the proposed
tariff, If enacted. amounting to about 100
per cent on Japan's tea ard silk will have
the effect of causing the Japanese who
are thereby injured not to welcome Ameri-
can goods as heretofore. Americas kero
sene will suffer in the keen connection
with that of Russia, its iron with that CT
Belgium. England and Germany, its cot
ton with that of China, Egypt and India.
These opinions have been expressed in the
chambers Of commerce of the tea and silk
districts and are being reflected and re-
peated throughout the empire. There is
the duty on silk, tea and mating, and
confirmation of it is awaited with anxiety.
Should, however, the tariff bill pass even
in the shape proposed by the Senate COM
Inittee it cannot fail to injure seriously the
trade between the two countries, both in
imports and exports"
Not IA Blow at Japan.
I called attention to some public utter
ances. which assumed that our proposed
tariff legislation on tea, silk and mating,
was direct and Intentional blow aimed at
Japan. and asked the count if that was a
prevalent belief.
He said: lat first the japanese did think
that the legislation was aimed at them, hut
l have already taken measures to explain
the matter, and now they believe Only the
truth. When the question first arose 1 re-
cefved hundreds of memorials on the sub
ject, some Of them even accusing me of
inefficiency for not officially interfering l
replied to these memorials that If the law
really made specific discrimination
against Japan I should interfere officially
But it did not thus discriminate. Other ia
tons We're affected. There lis an uninten-
tional discrimination perhaps arising from
the fact that the tea and silk of Japan are
cheaper than those of it's competitors, and
that specific duty of So much for n GER
tain quantity without regard to its quality
bears most heavily upon the cheapest
goods. For instance duty of 10 cents per
pound would tax 100 per cent the average
Japan tea, while 1t would tax but 80 per
cent the average Indian tea, the former
costing about one-half the latter l doubt
whether heavy duty on tea would ulti-
mately be of benefit to the United States.
The cost of our cheap tea would be largely
increased to the consumers, who are. In
derstand, the middle and lower classes. AS
your Congress represents the mass Of the
people who would be thus affected it seems
doubtful whether such legislation could
pass the representatives of the people, or
be beneficial If passed.
remarked that the japanese law grant
ing bounty to japanese exporters of raw
silk had been drawn into the controversy,
other exporters claiming that the act was
a discrimination against them, being prac-
tically rebate of the export duty, and
some of the japanese suggesting that our
tariff legislation concerning tea and silk
was in retaliation for this legislation. 1
suggested that II the United States should
retaliate at all the retaliation would be di-
rect and unmtStakable, imposing an addi-
tional duty equivalent to the bounty.
The Bounty to Japnnese Silk Export
ers.
Tho count replied that Of course the
bounty act had no connection whatever
with the proposed tariff. This act is not
intended to apply injuriously to foreign
ers. and If 1t has any such effect, that re-
suit will be unavoidable under the present
treaties. Until the new treaties go into
effect foreigners are not amenable to our
laws, and If the bounty were extended to
them, well as to the Japanese, and any
Of them should profit by its provisions
through false pretenses or otherwise break
the Japanese laws in this connection, ia
pan could not punish them. This is the
reason that foreigners are not included in
the law
1 asked whether. this being the case, the
bounty would be extended to foreigners
when the new treaties did go into effect
and they became amenable to japanese
laws.
The count replied that the law would
probably be amended at that time in some
way to suit the circumstances. In re-