The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-07-06
THF APPEAL OF JAPAN
Chambers of Commerce Ask That Re.
forms Be Instituted.

Tokyo, July AT joint meeting
of five chambers of commerce here it
was resolved to address the principal
chambers of commerce in America as
follows:
st has always been a matter of pro-
found satisfaction to the people of
Japan to witness the constant growth
of cordial relations between our two
countries and of our community inter-
ests in the field of trade and COM
merce, but since last year the people
in a section of your country have I'M
fortunately acted in a manner calcu-
lated to prejudice the legitimate rights
of the Japanese people, who have been
subjected to unjust and abusive treat
ment at che hands of a lawless element
prevailing. Their right Of education
has been denied them; their houses
have been repeatedly attacked and
their property destroyed without the
least cause or provocation, with the
result that not only have the treaty
rights of the Japanese been wantonly
diSregarded, but their persons and
property also have Deen exposed to So
rious danger.
1T is to be extremely regretted that
such unfortunate incidents should be
allowed to occur so frequently, as it is
feared that unless they are speedily
stopped the ill feeling which our .coun-
trymen are constrained to harbor for
the people of single section in Amer
lea may eventually have an unhappy
effect upon the development of COM
mercial relations of the two nations,
for while the United States is a good
customer for our natural products,
Japan is also increasing her demand
Tor American goods and promises to
become one of the most important
markets for your ever expanding and
prosperous industries.
Should the progress of trade and
commerce between the two nations be-
come INSTRUCTED as the result of the
unWarranted action of a small section
o1 your population, the loss sustained
" the two countries would be meal
culable.
We therefore venture to address
you and express our views on the stu
aslon, confident in the hope that they
VIII be shared by you and that you
VIII, considering the matter on the
flsht principles of national intercourse
ana the mutual advantages Of trade
teistions, do your best 70 speedily
0iiminate the present causes of discord
sno TO insure our common prosperity
tor the future"
Also Addressed Roosevelt
Inc chambers of commerce have
slso addressed President Roosevelt ~
follows:
We have always watched with pro-
.vu1d satisfaction the growing strength
u sne bonds Of traditional friendship
Ue."een America and japan, coupled
WIN the steady progress Of the COM
elce between the two nations. It IL
onereiore source Of deep regret and
ooncern to lea-n Of the actions ire
auently reported since last year Of q
oectlon of the community In San Fran
u,soo against japanese residents there,
b buose persons and property have thus
b; ;ep exposed to serious danger. While
aa sniy approaching your unremittina
I Is in the cause Of Justice. we
au umoly think that II such abuses are
a,'oWed to continue the development
sa, commerce based upon the friendly
seia'lons of the two nations may be
eventually retarded.
q we, the undersigned, representa-
sn nes OF chambers Of commerce, taking
special interest in the promotion Of
M mutual economic relations, arr
th; aoie to remain silent spectators d
~. state of affairs. We accordingly
90 s'e addressed the principal chamber
~ commerce in America. inviting
NC" TO exert their best endeavors fol