The San Francisco call., 1909-11-30

men both of Japan and of the Pacific
coast was that the visit of the commits
sioners would not be concluded without
some such action, yet both were rather
hesitanf Of broaehing plan AS the
Visiz grew TO a close without any i'm
mediate material development it began
to be felt that the whole affair would
ole with the echoes of the after dinner
speeches. II remained for Baron Shibu-
sawa TO take the bull by the horns and
make the proposition of forming an
international chamber OF commerce.
SUGGESTS THE SCHEME
During my visit 10 the Pacific coast"
he said. spea king at a reception given
TO the commissioners by the business
men in the Merchants exchange yester-
dav afternoon. I have heard several
references made 10 the inequality of
the trade Ia lance between Japan and
tho United States in favor of US. one
Of the ca uses for that is because we
are ignorant of your products. ] have
sincerely wished that something ma
leriai would develop before we left
this country and I would like you TO
consider the proposition Of forming an
international c1aGber Of commerce.
with hea 1quarters in Japan and on the
Pacifc coast. This would provide u
with a channel by which we would be
able 70 come into direct communication
with each other"
The proposition was eagerly taken
up. Following the reception, Captain
Robert Dollar discussed the situation
with the baron and made arrangements
TO put the plan into execution in the
near future.
CLOSING COURTEsIES
The entire tone of the reception at
the Merchants exchange was one of
business, but the commercial spirit was
laid aside in the sentiment of farewell
in the evening when the visitors were
made the guests at a banquet al the
ST. Francis hotel. given by the chamber
of commerce. It was the last official
gathering of the commissioners as
guests Of the nation. Today they win
go aboard the Chiyo Maru and act as
hosts TO those Americans who have
received them here and who have ac-
cOmpanied them on their trip. The
official farewell, however. was said at
the banquet last night.
The reception 10 the visitors during
the afternoon was attended by a large
number Of businessmen. James Rolph
Jr, who presided, declared in opening
that as dwellers on the Pacific shores
the japanese and the men of the Pa
cific coast were, in q sense. neighbors
IT is good, therefore, he said, that
we merchants Of the Pacific shore
should visit one another and under
stand one another, so that we may
work out the destinies Of our great
ocean in intelligent harmony
CAUSES OF INEQUALITY
Captain Robert Dollar, who followed,
dwelt on the inequality of the trade
relations between Japan and the United
States.
There may be several causes for
this condition" he said, but l will
name a few only. First, is the lack
of interest Of our merchants in the
foreign trade, the lack of sufficient
American houses in Japan. Our mer-
chants have not enough American rep
resentatives out there. and therefore
we see the trade going to our British
and German competitors. Secondly,
think the decrease in exports has been
caused TO a large extent by the inter
state commerce commission in attempt
Ing TO regulate the trade with Japan"
Andrea Sbarboro, another speaker
suggested that in return for the vast
quantities of tea this country imports
from japan the latter country should
import California wines. He then
broached the subject of the opening Of
the Panama canal. declaring that If
there should be an international expo
sition in san Francisco to celebrate
the event he hoped that japan would
be properly represented.
DOUBLE AIM OF TOUR
Baron Shibusawa replying for the
members of the commission dealt al
most entirely on the subject of the
inequality Of. trade between the two
countries.
There is no need for any anxiety
on that account" he said. 1t must be
renembe that the United States pur-
chases raw materials chiefly from
japan. This is sent to your factories
and a finished article produced, much
enhanced in value. Therefore. the
United States makes a profit on it's
Japanese purchases However. I might
saw. that one of the chief objects of
our trfp was not alone TO see what we
could sell with profit 10 the United
States, but also what we could buy
from the country with profit to our
selves. After all, the aim of commerce
is to buy as much as possible and sell
as much as possible
IN maj king this trip we have learned
much of which we before were entirely
ignorant. Our commissioners have. in
investigating the various industries,
seen that they could make many profit
able purchases in the United States.
As one sneaker has remarked. there |