The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-09
JAPANESE EYE
RUSSIAN TRADE


 That the new convention signed re- gently between Russia and Japan will make for the peace of the Far East" is the interpretation given this Russo-Japanese writer. Further more, Suzuki says that as a result of the signing of the treaty ''prejudices and revengeful feelings created by the late war are now softened and will soon altogether disappear and Ja- pan herself will much benefit by the change, especially in her activities in Siberia. Mrt Suzuki's paper is one of the leading articles in the Japan Mag azine of Tokio for October, copies of which reached New York few days ago.
 Thus the European war;" says MT. Suzuki, "has brought Russia and Ja- pan closer together by making Rus 'sia dependent on Japan and by Ja- pans readiness to respond to Russia s need. It is mutual gratitude that has led the way to the new alliance.
 "Japan's commercial and industrial interests have been enormously help ed and developed by the European war, causing the rise of numerous new industries and undertakings, to the great increase of the nations pro- ductive capacity. One of the markets to which Japan looks forward with much. hope is Siberia. With the dis appearance of German trade in Rus sia that country will have to depend more and more on itself, and Japan can have some prospect of participat- ing in the supply of demand. Eng ETvor lc1 roo dxy iY7O forward to a large share in Russian trade, and for this purpose are es- tablishing banks and making every preparation.
 'In Russia sales are on such long four years, that foreign exporters could not well meet the situation without special economic facilities. csc exporters and manufacturers have not yet fully realized, and so they have not been prepared to meet it. The Germans we'll understood the dif- f1culty and had arrangements for ob- viating it. They never waited for Russian order to be given, but saw long beforehand that such an order was likely, and had the goods all ready to fill it as soon as the Rus sians decided to give the order. Ow- ing to the long credit system the |price was exorbitantly high, and the banker advanced the money; so the profit to the German firm was natu- rally large. Tn this contest between the ,unsophisticated economists of Russia and the shrewdnes of German traders, the latter always had the best of 1t.
 | Thus the commercial position of kGermany in Russia before the war was very strong, while that of Eng land and other countries was unsta- ble; and this is why the British are now making up for lost time by pre- pairing efficiently to enter the vast trade fields of Russia as soon as the war ends. Japan, too, must pursue this policy if she is to take full ad- vantage of her new relations with chat country. The organization of a Sino-Japanese bank is useful and nec- essary, as is contended, but the es- tablishn1ent of good Russo Japanese bank is still more necessary to afford facilities for trade between the two countries. As Russian bankers hold this opinion as strongly as do the Japanese, there should be ro delay in having such financial institution.
 "After the war is over Russia will no doubt take steps to extend her trade in Asia, especially in Asiatio Russia, and she will require much machinery that Japan can very we'll furnish if we are ready to undertake ofders. Already Russia Is beginning to look to us for goods, especially ma chinery of all kinds. Evem now we are supplying Russia with all kinds of electric apparatus and equipment Japan may not only find a sphere of consumption for her immense indus trial output caused by the war, but she may even hope to find in Siberia a field for immigration to relieve her surplus population.
 The most attractive feature of the new compact with Russia to many Japanase capitalists Is the right 1t gives Japan to navigation on the Sum- gar1 river, which has hitherto been limited to Chinese and Russian ships. The right of navigation on this river Will enable Japan to bring out the products of Manchuria to the worlds markets more conveniently and cheap iy, as well as create closer trade re- lat1ons with Russia and China, It is to be hoped that the business men of Russia and Japan will co-operaee for the conclusion of an economic and commercial alliance as useful and complete as the political alliance just concluded; and the benefits to both countries will be very great indeed.
 JTfCF ARDTUIyn