Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-23
JAPAN and N THE CANAL

Japan's commerce as affected by the Panan
anal is given striking presentation in rece1
ssuc Of the New York Sun. Apparently Il
SUNS expert sees little likelihood of Japan usir
he Big Ditch extensively for some years at leas
Some of the points made are:
AS is we'll known, Japanese shippngmen
keenIy exercised over the mercantile problems which
the opening of the Panama Canal must present and
they have already taken steps to examine the posi-
bflities and probabilities systematically and thors
oughly.
The Nippon Yusen, Togo Kisen and Osaka Shosen
Kasha recently sent agents to the Canal Zone for
the purpose OF ascertaning all the factors in the sit
ration far as that was possible but 1t would APP
pear that the elements of uncertainty great in
all the calculations that any forecast of develop
ments, and accordingly any measures to meet these
Developments exceedingly hard to frame. 1t may
be said, however that the opinion is held generally
in Japan that the opening of the canal is by no
certain to affect the trade in the far
terally, at least, for some time to come. 1..t
In the first place, since the voyage to Europe via
Panama viii. only be few days shorter than via
SAez, and ships taking the former route will be at
disadyantage in having far fewer ports of call at
which they can pick up cargo and passengers and
take coal 1t is believed that there will any
diversion of traffic from the Suez route SO far
vessels bound to and from Europe are concerned.
If Rsvessel were to follow the route to Europe via
Honolulu and Panama. she could not expect any
go other than that billed through since the trade
between Japan and the other countries touched
route Is negligible and that between American ports,
Including Honolulu, is forbidden to all save Ameri-
can vessels Moreover the vessel would have to
ny considerable amount of coal for seaming across
the Pacific, and if the supply were renewed at Pa
mama the price would be higher than at ports along
the Suez route, since the coal at Panama would have
been carried thither from the United States Should
oil be used for fuel the would be somewhat diff
ferent hut even theh the lack of Interpret trade
would not be affected. ..'. FL.
Again. trade between the far east and the eastern
states of South America is small and will appar
emily remain so small for many years to come that
nma Canal for vessels plying between Asiatic ports
and Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo and Buenos Ayres.
Even in the case tof the western states of South
been found necessary to largely substitute the T. X.
K line 30 small Is the volume of trade. The bulk
o. the Inward cargoes consists of Chilean nitrate for
fertiIizing purposes, and although there is grow
ing export trade Of rice from Rangoon, etc. the out
bound cargoes are not large and the loss would be
still heavier the T. X. K line it not for the
emigrant traffic.
Should emigration be encouraged to Brazil and
Argentina and these latter countries raise objec
ton, It is thought that line to Rio Janeiro and
Euenos Ayres with sailings every two months might
be warranted but such line would almost certainly
be loss at the start and much depends what the
governments would do.
On the other hand, it is deemed highly probable
that of the trade with the eastern division of
the United States will be diverted from the rail and
sea route via San Francisco and Seattle to the all
route via Panama