Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-05

pleasure over his election. / was one of
those to congratulate my country TOT
selfish reasons, because we know that
President Taft understands us as well as
the Japanese understand themselves.
'Since my arrival in New York nave
been interviewed by many newspaper
men, and among the many questions there
is one which has always been PROFOUND
ed. They ask me What do you think OF
the California question? At first l dld not
quite understand what they meant, be-
cause to us Japan Sc there is no such
question as that which you call the CAM
fornia question, and that there is no
cause whatever or any apprehension.
THE quest on as I understand 1t. is the
Japanese immigration question-not what
you call the California question. If that
question is fast disappearing, because, &C
cording to consular reports, japanese i'm
migration to California is now decreasing
More of our people will return from Cali
fornia to Japan than go to Cal fornla,,
as the natural outcome of the changed
conditions since the Russian war. We
have now bigger sphere Of influence;
we have to develop Formosa; we have to
send Japanese to Korea, which is under
our protection. We have large interests
in Manchuria, where our labor is very
much needed, and, moreover, the northern
part of Japan. Hokkaido, has to be ex-
plotted and developed. Unfortunately,
Japan is poorly favored to compete with
dustry. Our capital is scarce and dear.
We have not had much experience in
handling machinery. If Japan sends the
one thing in which it excels-cheap labor
to build up the industr of other ma
tons, that means the loss of the one
advantage we possess SO even II Ameri-
cans generally, or Californians particular
ly, ask Japan to send immigration from
Japan, for a purely selfish reason, then
we must decline to do SO. So l don t
see why there should be any apprehension
of trouble, for there exists no reason
for it.
Developing Industries and Commerce
Japan is most earnest in her desire to
develop her Industries and commerce. and
that is the chief reason why we are so
busily engaged. even now, in preparing
The exposition is a means for developing
peacefully industrial and commercial en-
terpr.se.
1T is interesting to note that while
travelling through Europe, on my way to
America l heard a great deal about the
Germany. While other powers are talk
ing about increasing their navies Japan
is trying it's utmost to cut off all ex-
penditures as far as poss BILE for its army
and navy in order to devote its whole
energy to the Development of industry and
commerce at home.
I'm Japan the month Of April is the
beginning of the fiscal year. Our pro-
gram for the coming years budget
amounts to about $50,000,00O American
gold less than the one for the last year.
much of this reduc ion resulting from
the curtailment of army and navy ex-
penSes.
Redemption Of War Loans.
This saving will be largely devoted to
the redemption Of war loans. During
the war time much money was absorbed
by the government from the people, but
they are now engaged in refunding. SO
this cannot fail to facili ate the develop
ment of our industries, because this
money returns to the people.
When the American commissioners
to the Toxic exposition were in Osaka,
Mr.. Loomis, at the banquet given by the
speech tina. Japan should bend all it's
energies to the work of developing her
industries. His speech was widely quoted
in the Japanese newspapers, and they
unanimously Endorsed his appeal. / am
very happy to say that the Japanese
are now devoting themselves wholly to
industrial growth. The stats les of the
last thirty years shows that the trade
between the United States and Japan
has increased about one-hundred fold
I don't see why cannot increase TWEEN
ty or thirty times more in the coming
few years when we understand each
other BETTER.