The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-02-11

G@Nf.s-
arc indeed glad to welcome tho
United States as one of The permanent res
.i,nrs of our pa, OF the world" replied
Marquis 10 or ?Alticaliy. " very well
realize that the taking Of the Philippines
10y your country was not the result, OF q
! war az conquest. We know Won had no
Idea OF acquiring territory here when YOU
declared war upon Spain. You are mt an
| aggressive people. and the Philippines came
% you only as one OF the results Q: the
war. We deem 1t a matter Of good fortune
for Us that the Islands are yours
What Marquis Ito Thinks OF the
philippines
DO you thiab the philippine islands VII.
! b. q yaiuabie possess.U n for the United
S'at,sg'
yes. do" said Marquis Ito. Il have
never visited the Philippines. but 1 have
had opportunities 20 learn much about
them. They are rioh islands and have
great resources. They will be of value to
you Indirectly also in attracting the atten-
ton II your people to this great field Of
hsirtic and trade. and will give
YOU a tase from where you Will probably
get your share of 1t. II seems to me that
the United States cannot afford 70 let so
Of the Islands. and that from now on your
people must take your place among the
great working and developing powers OF
the world. You have so far tried TO live
I within yourselves. hut this war has forced
YOU into your natural position among the
greatest OF the worlds Powers. and ii
! seems to me you caunc; but accept the sit
uat:un. | believe the time will soon coms
II It IS not already here. when you Will
need TN. Asiatic market. You are growing
So fast IN wealth and population. You have
enormous supplies Of raw materials most
favornbly situated FOR manufacturing. and
your skin in manufacturing and commerce
H. such that you must have a world mar
ket. \ large part OF that market in the
! future VIII be found here on this side OF the
| globe"
Il suppose Japan expects 70 have its
share Of the market Of China
Yes. os course replied Marquis Ito. W
hope 10 10 our share Of the work and trade
ur this side Of the world. We are. however.
but "a small 'oUn,ry. and in number We are
comparatively few. We have now a p1puia-
ton of about f1rty-thrcc millions. We need
more capital and our people are now think
ing that they could make profitable com
fiuari1rs with your people in manutactur-
b A+Ng ffHF G'f .s+f ' ~ We arc on ITO
ground. We understand the fell ard the
natives &C the diTerc"t countries. AMI b
such combinations "" could both do better
, tha., either cpui: alone"
Did thc China War Benefit Japan:
What IS the present, situation IN Japan
/ rs affected by your war with China? WAS
the way a benefit n tie Japanese
In some respects it was ard in some re-
! spots not" replied Marquis Ito. AS far
. as stimulating uew enterprises was con-
ccruel. it gave everything a push. We have
more factories and are doing more business
than We have over done. The times are
fairly good, and our people are making
money. The war very materially helped
the standirs of japan among the great
! powers Of the world. and l think II has, on
! the whole. been a good thing for Japan"
Why 10 YOU say on the whole. your Ex-
celen.y? are there any respects In which
it was not "A good thing
Yes" SAID Marquis Ito. "But even n
I these things Il may eventually turn out for
good. We have considerable trouble TO
make the people see and do the right thing.
| mean In Parliament. We are a youns
nation In Western methods. and nations
GROW slowly. They are. like men. some
times apt 10 do ind!screet and rash things
in their youth. We are largely controlled
10y public opinion. and this changes with
the times. and in some cases. II seems 10
me. not always for the best"
The New Japan and the Treaties.
But, your Excellency." said I. you have
/ been with the new Japan from its begin
ring. can you look back and not be salts
fed with your wonderful prosress?"
u am satisfied with many things. and
there are many which / think might be
tettered. Our people have not yet learned
10 govern themselves. at least. We have not
l By any means yet reached the perfection OF