The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-03
COMMERCE WITH JAPAN.

I
COMMERCE WITH JAPAN.
| Kogoro Takahira, the Japanese Min
lister to the United States. has the fol-
lowing interesting message from the
Yankees of the East to the Yankees of
| the West in Golfers Weekly:
Japan feels very near to the United
States. This feeling Of friendliness be-
gan with the visit of Commodore Perry
| to our shores, which let in a great flood
of new light from the west, and it has
| increased as American Ingenuity has
shortened the distance, measured in
hours of travel, between the two coun-
| tries 1t has also been very greatly
Increased and deepened, 1 am sure, by
| the association of the armies of the
empire and of the republic in the move
ment to safeguard the highest interests
| of civilization in the east. This associa-
| ton revealed, in a striking way, the
| fact that the United States are now
an eastern power, and that the inter-
ests of America are very closely relat-
| ed to those of Japan. 1t was the be-
| ginning, l believe, of a new impulse in
the development Of a far greater trade
! in the Pacific and of warmer feelings
of friendship.
Japan especially welcomes this pros
pect. do not believe that any country
| mas shown a more earnest desire for
the Improvement of commercial rela-
lions with other countries than has ia
pan. While we have shown this desire
with respect to all countries alike we
have been particularly anxious to bet
ter our relations with the United States
Japan feels more and more convinced
that, for trade, she must eventually
look to the shores of the Pacific. and
that the greatest of waters must be
| dominated in the near future by the
merchant vessels of the empire and of
the United States
| we have witnessed, without envy or
jealousy, the swift growth of our young
rival across the Pacific We felt that
| 1t was to be for all time rivalry of
/ friends. an afnicable and good-natured
competition for trade. There is room
enough for both countries to exploit
| themselves. 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 de-
velops the Philippines and Hawaii, ia
pan will be benefited to a large extent
If Japan, on the other hand, more ex-
tensively opens up Formosa and other
parts of the empire to trade, the Unit
ed 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.
Again, Japan has a population of
about 45.000000 with manifold needs.
America can supply them. The United
States have a still larger population,
with many needs that Japan can, per-
haps, supply. Each country therefore,
offers to the other an extensive field for
trade development. We have much that
we can sell to America; you have much
that we want to buy. 1t is for these
reasons that we have been able to watch
without feelings of envy or jealousy the
marvellous growth of your country. We
have felt, also, that Japan is young
nation, that the transformation accom-
plished within the last few years has
given us new birth among the peo-
pies of the world We start fairly with
the United States, then. in this friendly
rivalry for the trade of the Pacific.
THE Japanese are greatly In favor of
American products and ideas. We want
the latest mechanical devices, the most
advanced theories and principles-of in
dustry and manufacture, and we feel
that we can get them from America
This was not true a few years ago,
when the United States were not so
far advanced as they are today. and
Japan looked mainly to Europe for
western ideas and western trade We
have now begun to look across the Pa
cific.
1.-THE United States have recently Ia
ken important steps toward the devel-
opment Of commerce In the Pacific. II
refer principally to the acquisition of
Hawaii and the Philippines. The con-
duct Of the Americans in China and the
general attitude of the American Gov
eminent and people will also, no doubt,
have fruitful results when the Chinese
empire Is finally opened to the COM
merce and trade Of the world But the
result in the Philippines and in Hawaii
will, of course. be seen sooner and WIN
be felt more directly.
"We are looking. however beyond
such restricted trade areas as Hawaii
and the Philippine Islands. We are
anxious to encourage the natural de-
velopment of commerce between Japan
and the home territory of the United
States. This commerce, as have said,
has practically Jest commenced. 1t is
yet In its infancy. But we may infer
something as to the size of the future
trade between the two countries from
the rapidity of its early growth and its
already considerable proportions.
Japan. like England. must always be |
a country of large importations. In this |
respect, the United States have ire
mendous advantage over us. You will /
be able to sell us more than you will
buy of us. But be 1t so, Japan wants
to buy In the cheapest and best mar
kets. We should like to purchase as
largely as possible of the United |
States"