The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-11-19
JOHN BARRETT
IN THE FAR EAST
THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH
TELLS OF HIS WORK FOR THE
ST. LOUIS WORLDS FAIR.

The Hong Kong Telegraph of October
"a contains the following:
The Commissioned General to Asia
and Australia for the st. Louis Worlds
Fair of 1904, Hon. John Barrett, former
ly United States Minister to SIAM ac-
companied by his Secretary, Mr. Theo-
dore Hardee, will leave tomorrow or
Monday for Siam, Straits Settlements,
Burmah, India, Ceylon and Australia.
Mr.. Barrett has now completed his la
bors in Japan, Korea, Eastern Sibe-
ria, China and the Philippines, where
he has been able to conclude negotia-
tons for their participation in the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition on a
scale larger than ever before attempt
ed. In view of the Importance of his
mission and its connection with the
progress and development of Asia and
Australasia, it is interesting to note
just what he has accomplished. Be-
fore undertaking this extended journey
the commissioner had charge of the
foreign negotiations for the Worlds
Fair in Washington. Just after he
finished his work as a Plenipotentiary
of the United States to the Interna-
tional Conference of American Repub-
lies in Mexico, he was selected for this
responsible mission of interesting the
Asiatic nations and Australasian Col
onies because of his knowledge of Pa
cifc countries and previous diplomatic
experience. Considering the results
he is achieving against unfavorable
conditions of commerce and politics in
the Far East, it is not unlikely, ac-
cording to American exchanges at hand
that he may be offered a high
diplomatic post for his government
abroad upon his return to the United
States.
Mr. Barrett left San Francisco in
April and stopped first in Honolulu.
When he had aroused that Territory to
an appreciation of it's opportunity at
st. Louis, he went on to Japan. Dur
ing the month that he devoted to the
Empire he persuaded the Government
to raise it's appropriation for taking
part at st. Louis from a quarter of a
million yen. Received by the Emperor
and Empress and visiting the principal
cities of Japan he gave the Worlds
Fair a standing in that country which
it would not otherwise have had. In
Korea the Emperor promised to send
an extensive exhibit and a special COM
missioner. In Eastern Siberia it was
decided that the railway management
should prepare an elaborate display.
When the Commissioners General
reached Picking in July he was granted
a special audience by the Emperor and
Empress-Dowager, being the first COM
missioner on similar mission to be re-
ceived by the Chinese throne. He visit
ed all the leading Viceroys and COVER
nors and secured from them assurances
supported by edicts, that they would
do all in their power to make Chin&'s
exhibit the best she has ever sent to an
exposition. The Emperor in his reply
to Mr.. Barretts address, said that he
would send an Imperial Commissioner
to represent him at the Worlds Fair.
From China he went to the Philip
pines, where an earnest welcome was
accorded him not only by Americans
but by Filipinos and Europeans In a
series of conferences and meetings, he
aroused public sentiment there to a
realization of what the Worlds Fair
means for the development of the Ar
chipelago and an accurate knowledge
of the people and islands throughout
the United States Governor Taft pre-
sided at the principal gathering Off
lipinos and thanked Commissioner Bar
rett for the work he had done
Mr.. Theodore Hardee, the competent
Secretary of Mr.. Barrett, who has done
so much to assist the latter in his mis-
Sion states that probably the hardest
work yet to be done is in Australia.
There is little doubt that the other
countries of Southern Asia will take
part in a comprehensive way, but
drought and financial depression clouds
the outlook in Australia. AS however,
the Americans are very anxious for
Australia and New Zealand to be Gre
ditably represented the Commissioner
General is saving that field to the last
so that he may devote his undivided
attention to it. He certainly has the
best wishes of all those who have met
him and his secretary, and who are
familiar with their untiring effort to
promote the interests of the st. Louis
Worlds Fair. By the time they return
to America they will have travelled
80 900 miles, visited twelve separate in
dependent and dependent countries,
and come in contact with the leading
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