The Washington times., 1915-08-02
PHILIPPINE TRADE
BECKONS TO JAPAN
Merchant Scout Declares Fiji.
pinos Would Welcome Closer
Relations With the Empire.

DR.. X. Miyama, a Japanese merchant,
recently visited the Philippines and
studied the possibilities Of more ex-
tensive trade between the islands and
Japan. He reported on his return to
Tokyo that the possibilities were much
greater than he and other Japanese had
believed them to be. He added that he
found that there was no feeling hostile
to the japanese in the Philippines. and
he believed that the Filpinos would
welcome closer trade relations with the
island empire.
From Manila. DR.. Miyama iourneyed
southwark to the Island of Mindanao.
where Japanese agricultural activities
are crater than in any other part OF
the archipelago. In the foreogn trade
of the islands. the United States ranks
first, England second. and Japan third.
with GERMANY and China fourth and
fifth, respectively. In the islands them
selves the Chinese are in the ascendant
SO far as business Is concerned.
The most striking phases OF Japa-
nese development" writes Mr.. Miyama
in the Japan Magazine Of Tokyo. ARE
in the direction of agriculture. their In
f1uence being particularly prominent In
Dabao in Mindanao, where soil and cli-
mate are especially favorable.
There are japanese scattered more or
less among all the interior ports of the
and petty merchants of one kind or
another. In the two centers named the
japanese are most numerous and sue
cessful, but on the whole they occupy
development of the Philippines. AS
japanese steamers now call at Sambo-
anca the Japanese are able to get sup
plies from home, which Is a great con-
Venlence to them.
'"rhe anti-Japanese sentiment so la
mentally frequent In parts OF the
United States proper happily finds no
place as yet in the Philippines. The
natives. suffering to some extent from
spect for their masters. nor have they
much for the cunning Chinese. whose
ways they do not like. In fact. there
seeems everywhere to prevail warmer
friendship for the Japanese than for
any other race, even the savages show
ing them kindness.
THUS both the American authorities
and the natives welcome the Japanese
and treat them with due consideration.
The authorities are specially anxious to
Introduce more labor from japan. as the
japanese prove more satisfactory in
this respect than do the natives. The
white hemp companies utilize Japanese
labor as far as they can. with very
satisfactory results Thus the dema nd
for Jaranese labor IN the Philippines is
almost unlimited at present. New
plantations are always being created;
ana tne new ihuuS'rH VI ap.iSh - o''i III
a phenomenal Development that Will
still further increase the demand for
labor.
Most Of the shoes worn are imported
from the United States, but the natives
have wide feet to which shoes made In
Sapan are more adapted. Shoes which
I'll In japan for ven pair sell for
yen a pair in the Philippines. There
is plenty of room for development in
trade between Japan and the islands.
At present many things which are go
ingto waste in the Philippines could be
very orofitably exported to Japan and
made good use of. Also. japan would
import much raw material from there.
and after turning 1t into manufactures
could export them abroad.