Norwich bulletin., 1920-05-01

So much has been written and said on l the political side of the relations between Japan and the United Stated of Ameri- ca that | am tempted by the oppor- tunity offered by The Independent to ap- a peal to the more practical side for judgment and attempt to give what
 seems to s1le a cogent reasoning against the continued attempt to create a breach
 between us, writes T Yamameto, Jap.
 aTlese minister for agriculture and com
 merce in The Independent.
 At present and during the last decade. at least, but T am inclined to think that
 throughout the whole period since Japan
 first opened her door to international .or
 foreign intercourse, the commerce of.
 America has occupied stire first and most important place in the foreign trade or
 Japan In almost every sense tnis
 would seem to constitute reply to the
 sower of seeds of ill will. Let us give
 both sides credit for being practical Tn all the history of international inter course. exchange of production has been the foundation-the reason for mainten- ance of good relationsy From the Jap anese point of view, therefore, good re l lations with America constitute sine qua non in all considerations for the present and certainly, so far as all ln- dications go for the future. I appeal l to the practical common sense of Amer I ica for any good reason why when Japan
 sells more to America than she does to
 any other country in the world ana more to America and China together than
 to all the rest of the world put together Japanese business interest should .alienate l America or China. But I am discuss I ing the American side
 l In the year 1894, Japan's total trade
 with America amounted to about three
 hundred millions of yen. In the year I 1918. the total of Japans trade in buy ling and selling from and to America amounted to one thousand one hundred Il and fifty-six millions of yen, America ! took no less than 27 per cent and Ja. 1 pan bought 8 per cent of her tota T imports from America.
 Surely these figures are eloquent Il ' their reasoning and appeal to our prac
 t ticals friends on the other side of thu Pacific Ocean-stflat common Highway J which an all-wise Providence gave u for use and not for abuse.
 T The remarkable record of develop u ment of trade intercourse between ou ,Al two countries is but a beginning in tn l cycle of development unless indeed w -t are to permit an unreasoning and al insane policy to break the steady hoN ''l of cemmrece and of development of in y tercommercial relations
 | Within these last twenty-five year ,,1 15of peaceful exchange of commodities lI in which we have paid and you hsN ,,paid, and our differences have been set si tied without a breach, the social rela {. ltions and the understanding have stead l 1 iIy improved, say this advisedly, con I fident that the assertion cannot be sue ll cessfuly controverte6 All of our dif g. ferences of opinion in diplomatic inter course or newspaper discussion fortu , | nately and reasonably have been set T tied without any appeal except to tn sense of justice and fair play of Amer . jeans and to the sense of honor, or 2 legation and reason in Japan.
 Figures talk. I therefore call to tn Z aid of my argument to the bushes | men Of America which tell of Japan's rt : lations With America Japan's foreig \ trade during the last twenty-five year ! amounted on an average to a57 ,0e0, ,0t 7 yen per year, the average exports beIn ,.l ,. 4 90 ,0000, ,000 yen and the average in . ports 467,000,000 yen. TTrade Wit America during the same period tetale d on an average to 249, 100000 yen o l year or 26 per cent. of Japan,s foreie "a trade Similarly Japan's exports
 America per year were 147 100000 ye
 and imports 102, ,0OO, 600 yen, the form 7 representing about 30 per cent. of u | countrys average exports and the Ia ls ter about 22 per cent. of the averal 7, imports It will thus be seen that il growth of Japanss trade with America Y the past has followed exactly the san T q rate of. increase as the growth of u 'n eountry's external commerce in gener; le one invariably assisting the other.
 ' Again the figures show a regular al v steadily increase not only in he amount. Is F trade but also in the variety of goo is exchanged between the two countries. lggl Another important fact is that wi ~ the advance of years the number of fo !. eign countries with which Japan trad - :, has gradually increased, and today s ,a ,a is selling to and buying from more tn
 thfrty-five countries. Nevertheles
 America still occupies the highest a v most important place in our foreI pc trade, is, in short, our best customer.