New-York tribune., 1909-03-30
ECONOMIC CLUB DINNER
HONOR GUESTS.
Commercial Relations 7Cith the Orient
Discussed by Speakers.

About six hundred and fifty men. large part OF
them leaders in finance. law and commerce, attend
ed the Economic Clubs third dinner of the season
a the Hotel Astor last night when the theme or
discussion was Our Commercial Relations with
the Orient" The guests of honor were H Waoa,
director general Of tie japanese International Ex-
position. be held in Toxic in 1917, and Tokutaro
Sakai commissioner of the Japanese government
who is here the same mission
| Mr.. SakaI spoke for his colleague and himself IN
a friendly feIictous way of the feeling in Japan
toward the United States and all other countries
deprecating the suggestion of any possible hoStih-
ties between his country and the United states ana
| pointing out that the fact that Japan was now
preparing the exposition was proof against any
thought of war. Japan. he said. bending ener-
giles to the development Of her commerce and agrl-
culture and not to military things
Among those who discussed the varying phases
of the commercial question Oscar Phelps Aus
tin chief OF the bureau OF statistics OF the Depart
| ment Of Commerce and Labor; Alexander Tison
formerly professor at the University or TOXIC;
| Chester HoIcombe ex-secretary of the American
Legation at Peking Governor John Green Brady
of Alaska and John Foord. of the American Asiatic
Association. Francis Lynde stetson. vice-president
OF the club. presided.
| Mr.. Sakai said
Our purpose is to improve trade and commerce
with all countries by means of the exposition we
hold in Toxic in 1917 We have broached the
first and most generous response from your
own eountry. Congress last June appropriately
saye f9Tn 0n ba Wh Ee even has to been a5s
ceeded. and the promise OF more has been given
with the appropriation.
That, We take it, is tangible evidence Of the
friendship between Japan and the United States
and we japanese VII never forget It, For the sue
cess OF our exposition we must have the co-opera-
tiOn OF men engaged in trade and commerce
Try three days ago, about the attitude Of Japan
toward the California demonstration. 1 don't un-
derstand ii fully. and country Is treating II as
matter OF but trifng importance. As regards
possible war. why. how we have a war without
q And there is basic The
position is real proof of the Intention of Japan to
@fng s9sy Gr
rsde Te 6eng ng 3dsT to Ouo up
We had 70 engage in the war with Russia for
we have no other activities but peaceful ones
What we are particularly thankful for Is the
IN selecting his commissioners to represent the
United States at the Toxic Exposition. He could
LoomIs Frederick J. v skiff Francis D. CiII Mil!et
O'Loughlin
In closing the commissioner said he going
10 Washington with his colleague TO thank Con-
sress and the President.
While there was unanmity of opinion among
the speakers that the trade of the Orient OF
great Importance to American commerce. there
were some divergent views to the wisdom Of the
| methods used in its development.
Mr.. Hocombe expressed the view that this coun-
try had made mistake from the start in its rela-
| tons with the Orient by sympathizng too much
! with Europe in Its affairs with China. John Foord
| the other hand. in favor of uniting with
| Great Britain and Japan in getting a foothold in
| China
Mr. Austin said that. despite the enormous growth
IN trade with the Orient. justified In striv-
ing for a stiIl further increase. since the Orient
takes from only per cent of It's total imports.
Mr.. Austin quoted yoluminous statistics from off,
cial records showing the condition Of the Oriental
| trade and how II apportoned. He ended with
| this advice:
| We successful in our sales OF American
| made goods when we offer them to people Of our
tralia in south Africa and even certain parts Of
South America but when We offer them 70 people t
| ferert from own must do so with intel
same processes which have brought success to our
commercial rivals and given them control Of that
trade In which our natural conditions entitle us TO
the Hons share.
| Professor '71son said:
England sends to Japan every commodty she
%ans "g to bur Th al are Simply Showing
simple economic sense when they buy in the cheap
last years led all other nations in trade with
eign commerce rec The @ future is bTighT with promise
| but the policy OF Japan is not warlike policy
| She has fought solely for self-preservaton, and
| not for personal power
Governor Brady. who spoke OF trade conditions
in Alaska, said II the key to the Pacific. He
paid tribute to the first John Jacob Astor. II
he had his way. said the speaker. there would be
no British Columbia. and the United States would
extend to $40"
Mr.. Foord said:
China has always meant to US a great, great market sn,
was no public opinion in regard to that phase of
the matter in 1898. 1t did not apparently matter
much then whether China disintegrated or united
John Sherman could not see that It made any diff
frence. could Mr. Dingley.
There a number of farsighted men who
however, did realize what 1t did mean Men like
Cushman Davis strong adherents Of the in
tegrity of China.
The open door is the thing for which we have
long contended, but Great Britain anticipated us
Without Japan neither OF Us could have the open
door The Japanese in their with China
brought about united country, and since then we
have had them allied with US for the open door in
China. -
Let us cooperate with every power that. like
ours tries to get foothOld In China. Let us unite
our efforts to those of Great Britain and Japan