The Washington herald., 1907-10-12

New York. Oct. 11.-Judge Ebert H.
Gary, chairman of the board of directors
Of the United States Steel Corporation,
gave a luncheon to-day at the Lawyers
Club in honor of Baron S. Mitsui head
Of the great Mitsui company of japan,
and accredited the wealthiest man IN the
Empire. Judge Gary said after the
luncheon If any business affairs had been
discussed, he did not care TO speak about
them.
Other directors OF the steel company
and representatives of its export depart
ment acted with Judge Gary as the hosts.
With Baron Mitsui at the table were
Mr. Matsuda, general manager of the
Mitsui company in Japan, who came to
New York a few days ago about week
after the arrival Of the baron, and X.
Fokul. manager Of the Mitsui company 5
New York branch.
While the head Of the steel corporation
declined 10 refer TO possible busiaess in
terests that might lie between his com
pany and the representative OF the big
Japanese trading and shipbuilding con-
Germ, he said Baron Mitsui had given him
represented the government of the En-
peror directly, and that he was an ex-
oficio adviser Of the present japanese
cabinet In matters of finance. From Mr..
Gary's statement and the fact that Baron
MitsuTs vast interests in jap IN are at
the present time being utilizea by the
government in the measure Cs pushing
development In Korea, the mission Of the
japanese hnancier in New York would
appear TO be entirely one Of pleasure.
War Talk Is Foolish.
Baron Mitsui and I had a long talk
on the condition of trade between Japan
and America" said Judge Gary. and
we both learned something We did not
know before We met The baron as
sured me that all talk Of war between
the two countries was foolshness, and
that the thinking class in his country
realized that nothing had intervened be-
tween the two governments to warrant
any buster about hghting- We men
toned the fact that since the balance of
trade between the two nations is in favor
OF Japan. its exports TO this country
bearing the ratio toward our imports Of
about 8 to ,, Japan would be the less
anxious for a rupture Of past cordial
relations.
y laughingly told the baron his coun-
trymen were close traders, and at first
he seemed to misunderstood me and to
think I was making an accusation
against the japanese business methods
But when I explained TO him that 10
trade close was the biggest merit in
business. he admitted the. japanese had
learned a good deal about America
Judge Gary reverted 10 the business Of
the United States Steel Corporation in
Japan He said more shipments were be
Ing made to the island empire now than
at any previous time, and that though
the general export business of America
with Japan may have fallen off in the
last few years, the steel corporation
felt none of the decline. Japan was
prompt TO pay and sure to abide by
contracts with his steel people in this
country said Judge Gary.
Orders Sent to America,
Baron Nitsuis visit here and his en-
tertainment by the officers of the Steel
Corporation gives interest to the reports
Df development work projected by the
Japanese government throughout the
SuuutAg lEINAAA9 b4bA6Al ulluti us III
1uence. Tokyo journals recently received
n New York contain the information that
all the orders for rolling stock and rails
20 be used on the new japanese rail-
roads, which are TO connect the Korean
railroad with the trans-Siberian trunk
ine in Southern ManChUria, were 10 be
placed in America.
The United States Steel Corporation
he Pullman Company, and the Baldwin
Locomotive Works were specifically men
toned in the japanese journals as being
phe sources Of supply. This line ofaail-
toad, which Is projected by the japanese
government and already is under course
II construction by a private company,
viii be the connecting line In the entire
Tans-Siberian system between Moscow
and Tokyo.
The Mitsui Company. Of Japan, does
.he largest trading business Of any com
pany there. 1t controls steamship lines
plying between Japan and Europe. Aus
Talia, North and South America. and the
China coast ports. In the opening I'D and
development Of Korea. which has been
ictively pushed since the termination of
he war. the Mitsui Company and its
dval, the Mitsubshi Company, have
Itr!ven for the bulk Of trade
Baron Mitsui Is stopping at the Holland
House, but he has denied himself to all