The Tupelo journal., 1903-04-10
A SUCCESSFUL MISSION.
John Barrett, Worlds Fair Ennis
sary to Asia, Returns and
Reports Progress.
SUCCESS HAS ATTENDED HIS EFFORTS.
The Various Governments of the Far
East VIII Spend an Aggregate of
Two Million Dollars In Making
suitable Exhibits ut st. Louis
Next Year.

Next Year.
st. Louis, April 4.--John Barrett
who has been working for the past
year to make the st. Louis Worlds
fair a household word in the orient,
and who has stirred up Asiatic sover-
eigns, as President Francis did the
crowned heads of Europe, is at expo
sition headquarters reporting his
peaceful conquest of the east to the
officials of the exposition.
A Years Work.
81 have been absent from st. Louis
almost IL months" said Mr.. Barrett,
''and during that time / have visited,
in the interests of the Worlds fair.
the following countries: Hawaii, ia
pan, Corea, Eastern Siberia, China,
the Philippine islands, French Indo-
China, Siam, Java, Ceylon and India.
In Europe L conducted negotiations
with the governments of France, Hol-
land and England to interest their
Asiatic colonies in the exposition.
Every One Has Promised.
Every n of the countries / visit
ed has promised to take part in the
Worlds fair on a creditable scale. The
expenditure of each country on it's
exhibit will range from $4,000 to
$400, 900. At first all of these coun-
tries were ignorant of the scope and
plan of the Worlds fair, and there
was a general and discouraging apa-
thy On the subject.
"Some of them had had unfortu-
nate experiences with the Paris expo
sition, and were in consequence OPP
posed to all expositions. Some, like
Japan, had previously declined to
participate in the St. Louis EXPOSE
ton, and it was necessary to persuade
them to reconsider their former deci-
sions.
They Were Persuaded.
But by showing them the disad-
vantage of not being represented, and
the prestige they would gain commer-
cially and politically by having an
adequate exhibit, they were persuad-
ed first to become interested and then
to take part.
"All the Asiatic countries together
will spend about 49, 900 on the St.
Louis Worlds fair, which sum would
pay for a pretty good exposition in
itself. 1t will be the grandest display
Asia has ever made. 1t will be the
first time the occident has ever really
seen Asia.
China's Appropriation.
"China, for the first time in her
relations with exDositions has acted
for herself. An appropriation of
100000 taels was made from the i'm
perial treasury under a special edict
OF the emperor. Heretofore China has
acted through some other country,
and the appropriations for represen-
tation have been made through nu-
merous officials, who objected to the
method of expenditure. China's eX-
hibit will be under the entire charge
of Sir Robert Hart, the head of the
imperial customs. China required
very careful handling, as five viceroys
had to be dealt with, and they are
like five kings.
Japan VIII Do Better.
The Japanese government will
spend 100000 yen, equal to $500 900,
which will enable the Japanese to
make the best display they ever have
made. The people of the Philippines
r taking great interest in the fair,
and will expend over 100000 on their
display. Ceylon, a typical English
colony, will spend approximately $751;
600.
During the past year L travelled
10000 miles in company with Mr..
Theodore Hardee, my private secre-
tary, who conducted the negotiations
with the Egyptian government, to
which l was unable to attend. The
mission was unexpectedly successful
in the face of overwhelming odds"