The record-union., 1899-09-26
Hon. John Barrett's Instructive Lecture
on the Orient.
Wise Words From Man Who is Thoroughly
Familiar With the Subject America Must
Hold the Philippines

mel stolzenberg, who died fighting for
the cause.
In paying his respects to Aguinaldo.
Mr.. Barrett said never in all his con-
versation with him, had he been able
to look into his eye. He was bright
keen and shifty. He spoke of Aguln-
aldos bad faith with Spain, and said
that at a. banquet at Hongkong he hao
heard him give a toast to the queen
of Spain, whom he nominated one OF the
most honorable women in the world
only to break faith with her later.
Continuing, Mr.. Barrett said: Let US
glance few minutes at the wonderful
markets that await US in far Eastern
lands. Please understand that l speak
from nearly six years personal study
and investigation of the subject. Time
and time again have travelled through
Japan, Siberia, Corea, China, Siam,
Straits Settlements, Java and the Phil
ippines trying to find out exactly what
opportunity there was for America to
sell and to buy. When I first went to
the Orient 1 said to myself, 1T is my
duty as a servant of the United States
Government, to learn all | can about
this mighty field which is so little de-
veloped." Aside from attending faith
fully to my departmental duties IN
Siam, which at that time We're partic-
ularly burdenSome and responsible, l
devoted my leaves of absence during
five years to travelling in these coun-
ties named, going oftentimes far into
the interior; and then again, the Gov
ernment often sent me on special mis-
Gil xxyIi lnd +n
study conditions otherwise unknown.
1t is an overwhelming consideration,
as we go into details to remember that
between Batavia and Singapore on the
south, and Yokohama and Vladivos-
took on the north, there are 500,O00.0 0VO
of people, with a foreign trade which
! is enormous in aggregate, but yet only
in its infancy when taken in detail.
OPPORTUNITIES IN SIBERIA.
Commencing first with Eastern ST.
IBERIA, we find an inviting opportunity
for American exports. The trans-Si-
berian Railway which should bring a
large population there and develop in
dustries, will be unable to,, lay down
great staple and manufactured pro-
ducts which we have to sell, more
cheaply than we can do it in our ships.
AS l Travelled through Siberia and
| Manchuria, Russian merchants and
/ Russian military authorities told me
+! that they all looked to the upbuildng
of large trade between that section
and the Pacific Coat o4 the United
States. Already they are wanting the
flour and the timber which this coast
produces in such quantities, and the
manufactured iron and machinery and
the railway materials of the East.
In the opinion of experts, Eastern
Siberia and the country tributary
should be importing from America
within the next ten years, $25, GOO
of products. There are largely the
same conditions of growth going on
there which characterized the Western
States of America in former years when
they had to buy so heavily from the
Eastern States.
JAPANESE TRADE.
We find that the remarkable kingdom
Of Japan at the present moment is in
a mood to buy from us more heavily
than ever before. Her statesmen, her
merchants and her people are kindly
disposed toward us because we took
/ the lead in giving her the new treaties
which make her a full-fledged, dignified
+ Power among the nations of the world
Recently Mr.. Komura, the japanese
Minister in Washington, told me that
! he was willing to stake his reputation
as a reliable authority. on the state
ment that Japan would buy $4,000
600 to 500, 100000 worth of products
within the next ten years. Formerly
+ it was stated that Japan's development
as a manufacturing country would
+ have an injurious effect upon our
/ trade connections with her.
i tt is interesting to note that the more
4 Japan has advanced her manufacture
ing the larger have been her demands
upon us. 1t would seem that the in
i crease Of her own industries adds to
+ her buying capacity. and to her de-
mand. From extensive travels in the
/ interior of Japan and through the
+ coast ports / am convinced that this
i little empire has splendid potentiali-
/ ties yet in store, which will mean great
possibilities for American trade There
/ is no doubt that Japan, in some re-
/ spects, has grown too fast; that she
may have over borrowed, and that she
is exceeding her financial resources in
her foreign transactions; but the ma
iority of American experts believe that
IL this is SO. it is only a temporary
! condition.
4 When we remember, moreover, that
her material progress has been con-
fined largely to the treaty ports, we
see that she still has wide fields for
development in the extensive area of
the islands just opened by the new