The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-25
MANCHURIA OPEN
TO WORLD TRADE
japanese Do Not Aim at Mo-
nOpoly and British and
Americans Thrive.

bashi. managing editor of the Man
! churia Press, In an exclusive interview
with the Far Eastern editor of THE
NEW YORK HERALD.
Mr.. Ishibashi, who is here studying
American newspaper methods. declared
! that since he arrived in the United
States everywhere along his route from
San Francisco to New York city he has
been questioned repeatedly about Japan
policy and position in Manchuria. He
said some people approached him rather
! politely, asking What is the attitude of
Japanese toward American industry--do
they like our coming?" Others, he said.
bluntly asked. why does not Japan
| keep the doors OF Manchuria open?" in
| timating Japan was actually shutting
out foreigners from Manchuria. whereas
as a matter of fact the largest enter
prises there. with the exception of the
| South Manchuria Railway, are in British
and American hands.
Surprised as I am at these questions
and at the general impression that pre-
walls in America that Japan is enjoying
the monopoly of economic opportunities
In Manchuria behind closed DOORS" Mr..
Ishibashi stated. II can realize just how
such fantasy could have been thrust
upon the credence of people unac-
quainted with the real conditions over
there. Perhaps the Japanese Govern
ment itself is partly responsible for the
misunderstanding. / have in mind the
diplomatic blunder the Japanese Gov
eminent committed when Il claimed the
exclusion of ManNluria and Mongolia
from the operations of the allied consor-
tium proposed for Chinese loans. will
discuss the matter fully on another oc-
casion. but certainly 1t was a foolish
blunder. which obtained nothing but the
suspicion Of other Powers as to the hon.
esty OF the Japanese motives and pro-
gramme in Manchuria.
Small Group Responsible.
Moreover, there are some japanese
who, selfish and undisciplined and quite
inconsistent with the general attitude
of their nation. actually cry against
the white peril in Manchuria, which
they want to keep for themselves alone
as their sphere of influence, and who
look upon each new entry of outsiders
as an invasion. And there are local
petty yellow journals which help to In
cite and spread the luminosity against
Occidentals. I should not wonder If
there have been few American bust
ness men or travellers in Manchuria
who might have felt the sting of this
anti-alien sentiment.
but the point want to emphasize
Is this: These offenders form only a
part of the Japanese population in Man
churia and represent by no means the
attitude and opinion OF the enlightened,
broad minded and cosmopolitan japanese
who run big businesses and who guide
the large policies of the Government.
THE situation is analogous somewhat
to that in California The anti-Japan-
ese agitation there is but local affair
as far as the United States Is con-
cerned. But the whole japanese nation
is immensely excited over It, because
the Japanese on the other side OF the
ocean find 1t difficult to realize that
the antagonism of their brethren is
confined only to one of the forty-eight
States of the Union and to certain
class of people in that State and that
some Californians are gallantly fight
ing the anti-Japanese propaganda,
pointing out the rapid process of Amer
icanization among the Japanese settlers
and their great contribution to the agrl-
CULTURAL prosperity of the Golden state.
So in America you seem to exaggerate
the Japanese faults in Manchuria out
of all proportions and attach to them
a great Significance that they nave not
''Facts are the final proof. Take the
Standard OIL Company of America AS
soon as the South Manchuria Railway
came under the control of Japan and
Dairen was opened as a free port the
company established its headquarters
there anu lS nOW Oii a 'N'Se
business not only in Manchuria but in
Mongolia and Siberia as we'll. Again.
the British-American Tobacco Company
is thriving so well there that the Jap
anese concern-the Oriental Tobacco
Company--is barely able to hold its own.
Americans in Mnnchurin.
There are a number of American mer-
camille houses-the Singer Sewing Ma
chine Company. for instance-that have
been established in Manchuria during
the last ten or fifteen years. especially
after the close of the great war. / see
In q recent issue OF Japanese paper
published in Dairen a news item about
Americans taking away from japanese
the export trade of certain medicinal
herb from Mongolia to Osaka, japan.
The paper reports that the export,
amounting to 100000 pounds year.
has been always In Japanese hands, but
now some Americans from Tientsln are
outbidding the Japanese In the Mongo-
/ Ian market to capture the trade. This
Is another evidence that the American
! can is entering Manchuria freely and
competing with the Japanese SUCCESS
/ fully, whether the latter likes Il or not.
I'm some quarters American coopera-
| ton Is invited and much desired. For
/ instance, the South Manchuria Railway
| Company, which has done SO much to de-
velop the industry and commerce in
| Manchuria, positively welcomes the
] foreign investor, as the Japanese capital
/ alone does not suffice to exploit fully
the natural resources and bring pros
perfty to that land. I think II was
year ago an English publication. official
organ of the British Association of
commerce In Shanghai, accused the
South Manchuria Railway Company of
discriminating against foreign shippers
| In favor OF Japanese. The attack was
directed against the company's special
rates for exports and imports which, as
a matter of fact, the freight rate favors
for the port Of Dairen Is longer dis
lance from the hinterland than Yinkou.
But remember, the company received
protests from Japanese In the latter
port too, as II won the support Of those
in the former And In both places were
Americans and British subjects who
shared the loss or gain with the Jap
anese II was matter OF competition
between two local seaports, but the
rancor OF the unfortunate was served
to poison the mind OF the Innocent pub
lie abroad against the Japanese
After all. truth will dispense much
II the suspicion and doubt that like
foul smoke darken the Manchurian hori-
zon As a journalist / am happy to help
through the columns of THE NEW York
HERALD TO clarity the situation. Man
churia's door Is open. Americans are
I