Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-05

larger snare or the trade, the volume
of commerce is smaller than it former
ly was. But this is due to the world
Vide slump that marked the wears 1oo7
ard 1908. 1t can hardly be charged TO
the incapacity of Japanese business
men.
Foreigners who look gloon1ilv unon
the future of aliens in Japan are arel1-
ing that the Japanese are showing a
mistaken eagerness to eliminate the
foreigner. 1t is pointed out that Janan
is the only country which REQUIRES ite
customs service to ascertain the ma
tionality of the importer and exporter
of goods and that an examination of
the directory of London or New York
to find the proportion of foreign
names should convince the ambitions
sons of Nippon that they are barking
up the wrong tree when they attennt
to drive out the foreign element as a.
menace to this countrys prosperity
This does not convince the Japanese
They hold that in country so small
and so densely populated and with so
few natural resources all opportunities
for earning should be in the hands of
natives. Moreover, they hotly resent
the attitude of social superiority which
has characterized the foreigners "set-
Elements"
The Japanese of high social standing
rarely admits the foreigner to his home
otherwise than officially or formally.
But he resents the fact that even when
he is a member of a club in which the
membership is largely European or
American his tenure of membership
merely marks an exception to the rule.
He cannot overlook the fact that the
attitude of the white races toward the
yellow races is not modified by the
mere fact that Japanese and Euro
peans mingle freely in diplomatic cir
cles and that an occasional Japanese
gentleman is upon terms of intimacy
with gentlemen from western coun-
tries. Until recently a foreign club in
Kobe held lease upon a cricket field
upon which none but foreigners were
allowed to play. When the lease ex-
pired it was found that it could be re-
newed only upon the condition that
Japanese might use it. A cricket field
used by foreigners only was recently
appropriated, to other uses in Toxic.
In Yokohama, where both japanese
and Europeans have the privileges of
the cricket field, cricket may be played
for as many years as it serves to hold
the interest of players. THESE straws
show which way the wind blows.
A feature of the Japan for the Jap
anese" movement Is a lively tariff dis
cussion. The year 1911 is to be a cru
cial one in the history of Japan.
While there is a question as to wheth-
er the treaty with America terminates
then or the following year, the treaties
with other powers terminate in 1911.
According to the terms Of these treat
les Japan was, after the lapse OF
twelve years, to be placed upon equal
footing with Europe and America.
Under the treaties Japan might not fix
her customs duties according to her
desires, but after 1911 she may do so.
mi. H.
agitating the question of what form
of tariff legislation will best serve TO
stimulate home industries and to bring
a maximum volume, of commerce to
Japan with a maximum profit to her
own people.
Baron Sakatani. formerly minister of
finance, is one of those concerned with
the Japanese tariff problem. He holds
that it is a foregone conclusion that
Japan will in future be a commercial
and manufacturing country as well as
agricultural, and that 1911 is the time
to begin a tariff policy which will at
once develop domestic industry and
foreign trade. He believes that a mod
crate protective policy is the solution
of a Vexed economic problem, There
are others who believe that Isolation"
formed by a tariff wall' must be
ruinous to a densely populated country
with limited resources, and where the
already heightened cost of living is be-
coming an awkward factor. The gen.
eral outline of Baron Sakatani's plan
is that Japan should "shut her doors
to such imports as are against the
furtherance of home industry" but
must take care not to too greatly in
crease the cost of production. He says
that the tariff policy should be to make
commerce and industry the essential
means of the increase of national
wealth. The farmers are a unit against
any reduction in the cost of bread, and
want retained the taxes which cause
Japanese to pay more for the staff of
life than do Europeans. Baron Saka-
tani says that "it is the duty of states
men to carry out their convictions il
they are for the interest of the coun-
try
Japan looks forward to the beginning
of her career in 1911 as full-fedged
nation-the peer of her neighbors over
seas. From that time forward she
hopes to develop a tariff policy that
will build up industries, increase reve-
nues and expand import and export
trade without too greatly increasing
the cost of production and the cost
of living The problem is difficult and
interesting. She hopes also, with the
progress of her growth, to weed out
the foreigners who are now playing an
important part in her commerce and
to turn all channels Of wealth into
Japanese pockets, as we'll as to elm
mate the race prejudice problem in her
capitals by eliminating other races.
Tomorrow-The Empire of Japan. Nv
The Great Sugar Scandal.