Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-24
Waved by Sec. Taft and
Ambassador Takahira
At Trenton, n. J., Chamber Of
Commerce Banquet.
kindest Of Words by Each For the
NJ ,..' I'LL Others Country.


Of War Taft and Baron Takahira. Jap
anese ambassador to the United
. States, spoke before the Chamber of
Commerce banquet tonight. Earlier
in the evening they attended special
reception in the Assembly chamber in
the State House. The two houses
We're in session and the galleries and
lobbies were crowded with spectators.
Secretary Taft and Baron Takahira
entered the Assembly chamber accom-
panied by Gov. Fort Baron Takahira
was accorded a great reception. He
spoke only briefly. Secretary Taft was
next introduced He was given d
rousing reception. Governor Fort also
spoke briefly.
At the conclusion Of the exercises
at the State House, the visitors were
driven to the Masonic Temple, where
the Chamber Of Commerce banquet
took place. over $50 guests We're
seated at the tables in the hall, which
was prOfusely decorated with Ameri-
can anu japanese flags Baron TAX
ahira was roundly applauded and was
then greeted with the Chautauqua sa
lutte
'@ Ambassador Takahira took advan-
tage of his appearance before a COM
mercial body to tell his auditors
something about trade relations be-
tween Japan and the United States
and world and to put in a good word
for the coming international exposi-
ton to be held under the auspices of
the japanese government in Toxic III
1912. He pointed out what he regard
ed was the effect the centennial expo
sition in Philadelphia in 1876 had pro-
duced upon the silk trade of Japan.
and consequently upon the growth of
general commerce between the United
States and Japan. In 1876 the Jap
anese imports from the United States,
he said amounted to a little more than
one million yen ($500,000) and this had
risen to nearly seventy million yen in
1906. Then he said:
:: THE reason of this sudden growth
of your exports for Japan is crafty
ing as it can largely be contributed to
the fact that during the last 80 years
America has been our princlpai Gus
TONER as, a buyer Of our staples ana
fostering in that way our purchasing
power until in late years, we begin to
import from this country many ar
ticles we used to buy elsewhere. thus
showing that as we had gained by
selling you raw silk tea and other ar
.ticIes. 50 we could import rails, loco
motives plates. machinery. etc
sometimes we hear rather harSh
complaint against Japan for starting
cotton mills and no longer importing
piece goods. but in making cott"f
goods in our own mills. we have TO
buy raw cotton from America Inc
same explanation is necessary Tor IN"
cigarette trade. We are no more puy-
ing them from this country. but we
manufacture them in our own Iactoi
les from the tobacco leaves imported
from this country. There are soi'i'
other things of such kind put tielc
is strong reason to believe that pc
cause, We gain something by making
these articles ourselves we have beeh
enabled to import a larger quantity ol
other things. Such as HOUR
.leather. ETC.
The exposition at Toxic. the ambas-
sador said. will be the largest one III
its nature and scope Japan has ever
\ ATTEMPTED and Japan would be hughiv
gratified to welcome the participation
of American manufacturers
II was nearly midnight when Secre-
tary Taft was introduced. He spoke
on 1.-The National outlook ana was
vigorously cheered as he arose u
speak He said in part:
1T is a great pleasure to everyone
in our government in the administra-
ton at Washington that Baron lak-
ahira has returned as ambassador
The relations between Japan ana 'iie
United States during the past TWO
years have much occupied the heau-
lines of sensational newspapers OF TINS
= country and of Europe
"A number of the European press
were determined that there should De
war between the United States anu
Japan even if both parties were deter
minedly opposed to it. The unfortu-
nate disturbances at San francisco
and the diplomatic controversies that
arose were made the occasion Tor the
circulation of the most distressing ru-
mors which were from time to time
repeated.