Evening star., 1901-07-19
JAPAN AND Am ERICA
THEIR RELATIONS DISCUSSED BY
MINISTER TAkAHIRA
Empire FavOrs American Products
and Ideas-Desires Improved
Commercial Relations.

The japanese minister, Mr.. Takahira has
an interview in Japan and America, the
unique publication issued by Japanese resi-
dents in this country, the first number of
which has just made its appearance. Mr..
Takahira deals with the commercial op-
portunites in Japan, and in part says:
Japan feels very near to the United
States. This feeling of friendliness begin
with the visit of Commodore Perry to our
shores. which let in great flood of new
light from the west. and it has increased as
American ingenuity has shortened the dis
tance. measured in hours of travel. between
the two countries. 1t has also been very
greatly increased and deepened. / am sure,
by the association of the armies of the en-
pire and of the republic in the movement
10 safeguard the highest interests of clvili-
cation in the east This association re-
vealed. in a striking way. the fact that the
United States are now an eastern power.
and that the interests of America are very
closely related to those of Japan. 1t was
the beginning. j believe. of a new impulse
in the developmten ent of far greater trade
in the Pacific and of warmer feelings OF
friendship
Desires Improvement in Commercial
Relations.
Japan especially welcomes this prospect
] do not believe that any country has
shown q more earnest desire for the I'M
provement of commercial relations with
other countries than has Japan While we
have shown this desire with respect to- all
countries alike we have been particularly
anxious to better our relations with the
United States. Japan feels more and more
convinced that for trade. she must event
ually look to the shores of the Pacific and
that the greatest of waters must be dolnt-
mated in the near future by the merchant
vessels of the empire and of the United
States. There is trade enough for both:
and. while there must inevitably be sharp
competition in certain fields of commerce,
the presence and labOrs of each Will aid
the other If America develops the Philip
pines and Hawaii. Japan will be benefited
to a large extent. If Japan, on the other
hand more extensively opens up Formosa
and other parts of the empire to trade,
the United States must reap their share OF
the harvest. Both it is clear, must benefit
by the development of China, for which
both are now striving.
Fnvors American Products.
THE Japanese are greatly in favor Of
American products and ideas. We want the
latest mechanical devices, the most ad-
vanced theories and principles of industry
and manufacture, and we feel that we can
get them from America. This was not true
a few years ago, when the United States
was not so far advanced as they are today,
and Japan looked mainly to Europe for
western lueStS anu WESTERN llduc- w ( nave
now begun to look across the Pacific.
There has been a tWOfOld revelation In
the opening up of the east The east saw
ard knew the west for the first time, but
the west saw and appreciated the east also.
our mutual relations can never be again
what they were twenty. ten or even five
years ago. We nave progressed beyond
that point. Hereafter there must BE- closer
trade relations and closer relations of
friendship and sympathy. Your country is
rast. and as its population is rapidly In
freaSing. your home market must long con-
fnue he a more profitable field for EN-
terpri=e than the foreign market. 1t is not
in Japan. We need foreign trade far
more than the United States does AS our
manufacturing and industrial interests de-
velop. Will have TO push our commercial
agencies further and further from home.
and send our ships into more distant ports.
Perhaps shall shortly reach, at least in
the principal portions of Japan. what econ
OuiStS call the SaturatiOn point, at which
foreign trade and enterprise a large ex-
port and import. will he absolutely neces-
sary for the maintenance of our population.
We manufacture or produce many articles
that Americans need and use. and which
ynu are buying from more and more
We are encouraging this trade in every
possible way. and we are also, at the same
tine. encouraging the Importation from
America of the things we need that you
can furnish
The United Stats have recently taken
important steps toward the development of
t. the acquisition of Hawaii and the Phil
ippincs- The conduct of the Americans in
China. and the general attitude of the
American government and people will also.
no doubt. have fruitful results when the
Chinese empire is finally opened to the
commerce and trade of the world"
Guarantee of Peace.
After reviewing the trade between the two
countries at length, Mr.. Takahira concludes
as follows:
The efforts now making by Japan to in
crease the commerce between herself and
the United States and the rest of the world
peace The two countries are seeking the
same object. but each can obtain IL best
and quickest through the peaceful cOmpeti-
tion of trade, which will bring about closer
relations of friendship and commercial in
terests between the two peoples. The Pa
cihc is not very much wider than the At
lantic- Yokohama is only 1900 miles from
San Francisco Fast steamships will soon
be crossing between these two ports in
eight days The opening Of a canal through
Nicaragua or Panama will create another
highway for the ships of the United States
to and from the Pacific. and will contribute
largely to the development of trade with
Japan The commercial interests of the
empire and the republic are so closely re-
lated that. If properly fostered. they will
insure fuller and more friendly inter
course between the two countries"