Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-09-11
BIC JAPANESE IS
PLAIN IN WORK
FOR COMMISSION

conference of the Entente Powers held
at Paris recently, explained to cor
respondent of The Associated Press
the general objects of the japanese
commission and discussed from a fin
ancial point of view the relations of
Japan and the United States as de-
veloped since the war and as affected
by the new japanese treaty.
Baron Sakatani is well known to
many Americans as the fnancier who
Strengthened out the ebbing finances of
Japan after the Russo-Japanese war.
He for time held the position that
corresponding in the United States to
that of secretary of the treasury. He
also was Mayor of Toxic. The other
members of the commission are S. Ten
rumi and K. Yabe, with S. Idzourka,
acting as secretary. The commission
reached Europe by way of the Siberian
railway crossing from Petrograd to
London, thence to Paris, and finally to
Rome.
Baron Sakatani, who speaks English
fuently said: THE Imperial Com
mission was appointed for the purpose
of attending the Paris conference and
also of visiting those countries in
Europe now our allies and of ascer-
tanning in a definite way how the
commerce of japan can be increased
with them, what they can sell us and
what we can sell them, especially as
relates to products they formerly OBJ
tanned from Germany and Austria
Hungary, There is also the question of
delivering goods. Japan has three
large steamship lines at present and
they are building as rapidly as possible
more ships, as rates in the Far East
have risen out of all proportions since
the removal of German ships from this
trade. We are willing to trade heavily
with Europe, since in my opinion Eu-
rope will not be so long making up it's
present war losses as might be thought
OF course the amount of these losses
will depend on the length OF the war.
and that depends on the success of
the Russian and other powers offens-
ives. But should the war end in reas-
orable time the people of Europe will
have been quickened by the war spirit,
they will work harder to make up their
losses.
'As regards the relations between
the United States and Japan, it must
be remembered always that we look
with gratitude upon the United States
as the country which sixty years ago
put us in communication with the out
side world, after period of twenty
five hundred years of almost non
communication with any other people
than those of our own islands except
few rare instances.
In recent years there have been
worldwide reports that these two
countries had conflicting national in
terests which would eventually bring
them to war First, the United States
thought we might attack her, accord
irg to these reports. Now the reports
have been shifted the other way. At
home our people are made to believe
that the United States is preparing to
attauk US. 1t is most amusing l have
many American friends and of course
we discuss these things. All of us
know that there are all reasons for
both nations to be friendly. The whole
body of this talk would be ridiculous
in the extreme it it were not that such
reports lead to the maintaining of ex-
pensiye fleets, to the building of coast
defense, l have had some experience
in war costs, think, and know what
: such foolishness means in money.
Il sincerely believe these reports
have a German origin, since Germany
has never wished us well and would
like to see us in difficulties with the
United States, but the United States