The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-01

X. Yamamato. president OF the Kobe
Chamber Of Commerce and member Of the
high council of agriculture, commerce ana
Industry Of Japan, accompanied by T.
kimura, secretary of the Kobe Chamber
OF Commerce. arrived at the Butler last
night en- route home from the international
commercial congress at Philadelphia, to
which they were especial delegates ap-
pointed by the emperor. They will spend
today In Seattle for the purpose Of consult
ing with the Chamber Of Commerce here
regarding the development OF Seattle as a
port for Oriental commerce. Mr.. Yama-
moto. through Mr.. Kimura, who speaks
good English, In an interview said: THE
International congress will do much good
toward the development of Oriental trade.
We were granted an interview with Presi-
dent Mckinley, to whom we expressed the
needs for trade extension. In the first
place we need low freight rates. Those
In effect at the present time are satisfactory
but could be made lower with good eff
feet. would recommend that II vessels
cannot do business at profit at low freight
rates they 1 BE- by both the jap
I'll the trade is developed to such an ex-
tent that 1t will be seIf-sustaining. This
time. do not think. will be very. long. for
power IN the Orient by Its acquisition of
the Philippines, We are neighbours, and the
trade OF Japan will TO- greater extent
tbdA ever cOiiie 10 tHe OnlIeQ states.
Port of Seattle Preferred.
The real trouble now is that there are
not enough vessels to carry on our respec-
tive trades. In this need Japan IL willing
ana anxious to do her share and we want
the trade OF japan to come through Seat
tie N preference 10 any other port on the
Pacific coast. In the Accomplishment of
this the Seattle Chamber OF Commerce
can render us valuable assistance and 1t is
FOR the purpose of talking the matter over
with that body we are here now.
ON our return home the Kobe Chamber
OF commerce VIII recommend to all Jap
Seattle. -''
we are particularly interested in this
port for several reasons. We have the
Nippon Yusen Kaisha line running from
Kobe and Yokohama to Seattle. This port
we are forced to believe will eventually
pc the leading one and most important on
the Pacific. coast, and by securing, or
rather training, our shipments to come this
way we will be in better position to re-
ceive the benefits that may arise when that
line coming into this port we look upon
you as closely allied to us.
In our talk with President Mckinley
we we explained all all, these matters and gave
TO bring our trade relations to the proper
standard. Kobe Is now a port for Siberian
and chinese trade. and operating direct
for shipments to and from these countries
More Vessels NeeAed.
1.-THE Japanese trade with the United
states Is a matter of great Importance
Only as short time as three years ago
our exports to the United States exceeded
our imports from this country. Now the
tables are turned and we import from
America much more than We export The
small to what 1t can be raised by put
ting or large vessels similar to those used
for trade purposes on the Atlantic and the
maintenance of low freight rates.
Every year we are becoming greater
buyers of American cotton, which we
ticles for export to China. This product
now comes to us, or a greater portion of
it. from San Francisco when we would
prefer 1t from Seattle, and with proper en-
couragement Will have 1t come from here.
Japan is developing wonderfully agrlcul-
turaIly. America has farm implements
and other machinery that we want in large
quantities.
while we were in the East we visited
many manufactures and there saw an
innumerable number of machines and Inn
plements that we need, and which on our
return we will recommend the Japanese
to purchase.
"But while developing your trade we
have many things that are required in
America such as Japanese ware, art pro-
duct.ons, cotton fabrics and a host Of
other things, the trade for which will be
encouraged by cheaper freight rates.
THE Japanese people are glad to see
but another link to the chain of friendli-
ness and increase the business of both
countries in all lines of commerce, and will
help to make Seattle the shipping port Of
the Pacific coast and Kobe the center of
commerce for Japan"