The Washington times., 1923-09-06
U.S.. IDEAS
GIVE n
TEST
= ~rA~
Ambassador Hanihara Tells of
Billions Of Dollars Worth of
Supplies Needed.
By WILLIAM K. HUTCHINSON,
International News Service.
- (Copyrikht 1928 by International


= - (Copyrikht, 1898. by International
"a -ey-, News Service.)
- Out of the charred wreckage
Of Tokyo and Yokohama will arise
new and greater cities, but
whether they will be built of
stone and steel, after the man
ner Of the western world or Of
wood as was the ancient Japa-
; nese custom remains to be seen.
This is the opinion of Masano
Hanihara, Japanese ambassador
to the United States, expressed
today in an interview with Inter-
national News Service.
Slxyscraper On Trial.
japan viii rebuild its devastated
regions on, an even larger scale
than before, the Ambassador said,
. but the blackened ashes Of Toxic
and Yokohama hold the answer as
to whether western construction
methods have proven superior to
the traditional building customs of
Nippon.
The modern skyscraper, as con-
ceived by American genius, was
'en trial" in the disaster. the Am
bassador said. Toxic and Yoko-
hama both had test" structures,
ouch q catastrophe az occurred IN
view. Scientific study Of the ef-
.fects of the earthquake on these
structures will determine whether
Occidental building genius has tri-
umphed over the natural calanities
Of the Far East.
Probe by Government.
Government scientists will begin
an investigation az soon as order
can be restored out Of the chaos
now existing, the Ambassador said.
Billions of dollars worth Of sup
plies must be purchased by Japan
during the period Of reconstruction,
the ambassador said, and the
United States probably win get the
greateat share of this trade. Amer
lean food. steel, lumber. building
materials OF all sorts, ana house
hold furnishings are >-needed by
Japan at once. Food Is the direst;
need.
Temporary reconstruction will
be started at once though Japan
will ultimately rebuild on a larger
scale than ever BEFORE said Am.
bassador Hanihara. Permanent
reconstruction must wait on the
report of government scientists rela-
tive to the type of: buildings which
proved the greatest protection
against this terrible disaster. On
their report undoubtedly will rest
the future Of western construction
the sky-scraper, iron-and-steel
type OF buildings, for which the
United States is famous.
Whatever plan is finally adopted,
Japan must purchase billions OF
dollars worth of materials. The
amount can only be determined
when a reconstruction program il
finally adopted. It is only guess
work now to name anv definite
1ieures, but the cost will be tire
mendous.
Must Turn to U. s.
Much of these supplies must
come from the outside world. There
are-only two nations-United States
and England-which can extend
substantial aid to Japan. Europe
has her own troubles, therefor.
,Jpann will turn to the United
States for the things she needs.
Great quantities of materials
will be needed at once for tenn.
porary shelters. with lumber probe
bly the chief requisite. American
lumber has been preferred in Japan,
and q great supply of it will now
be needed.
steel. building materials, tin.
ware, household furnishings-alIl
these must pe replaced and much
OF IL will come from the Tnited
States. Twenty great government
buildings will be replaced-the:,e
were modern in every respect
and Americans probably will do the
building
The great American-built Kaito
office building in Tokyo may de-
term1ne the fate of future sky
scrapers in Japan, regardless of
other tests, the ambassador indi-
Gated This building, erected as
nre-proof and earthquake-proof only
a few years ago. has been reported
destroyed though other dispatches