Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-13
NO EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGES
Merchants Must Depend Upon Their
Own Efforts.
DELAY IN OPENING PORTS
Ascribed to the Embarkation Of the
Troops About to Depart From
the Country.

No exclusive privileges can be granted
to japanese trade without undermining the
principles of the open door. No such privi-
ieges have been or will be granted. Japan
Is unalterably committed to the group Of
nations opposing such exclusive privileges
Counselor Miyaoka. now in charge of the
Japanese embassy here, made this import
ant declaration this morning.
Complaints. which have been made recent
ly against the supposed discrimination on
the Fart or the Japanese military authori-
ties in Manchuria in favor of Japanese sub
jects in allowing them trade advantages
denied to merchants from other countries,
were answered today in a statement by
Counselor Mlyaoka.
I'VE are anxious to learn of specific cases
Of such unfair play" declared Mr.. Miyaoka.
"A good deal was heard recently about the
irredeemable war notes with which the jap
anese had Hooded the country, making trade
dt!eicElt for the foreigners, but when the
matter was investigated 1t was found that
these notes were above par. That some Of
the ports have not been opened sooner is
because, at Dalny, the embarkatlon Of
troops was continuing. 1t Is fair privi-
lege for the army to perform these mill
tary operations unhampered by tho pres
ence of ordinary trade obstacles. But when
to civilion merchants at all 1t was opened
to civilian merchants at all, 1t was opened
on equal footing to the whole world. The
Japanese provision merchants who have
followed the army have not been licensed
to trade with the native population
Advantages of the Japanese.
1.-THE trade Of Manchuria Is a prize worth
possessing, however, and the Japanese mer-
chants are certain to do their best to cap
ture 1t. They have too many natural adj
vantages to need any unfair favors from
the government. The lower cost of pro-
duction and the lower charge for transpor-
tation from the home markets would be
sufficient advantage. In addition. the Jap
anese merchants have better knowledge
of the needs and ways of the people with
whom they trade. They do not establish
themselves in treaty ports in residences and
maintain a manner of living wholly above
that of their customers. but they push
out into the country on foot. without os-
tentation. urging their wares In every posi-
BILE way. The same tremendous activity is
going on in southern China.
1.-THE Japanese people have a heavy war
debt to pay; they must prosper commercial
ly In order to pay 1t. The energy with
which military operations were prosecuted
is now transferred to the peaceful pursuit
of trade and industry. In that pursuit we
are confident of fair share of success.
The market is close to US; we have the
first call upon 1t; ought to be able to
win it.
The Open Door.
'In this commercial rivalry with all COM
ers nevertheless the imperial Japanese gov
eminent cannot and VIII not interfere to
the detriment of the policies of the open
door, in which we are at one with the
United States"
Mr. Miyaoka then made his emphatic
declaration about the open door previously
quoted. He continued:
1T is possible that in the course of time
a zollverein may be negotiated between
Japan and Korea. At present goods enter
the country under the Korean tariff on
the same terms with all other goods.