12 Minnie Throop England 



efforts to gain a stronger foothold in the world's commerce. In 

 1895 Japan began the practice of sending out special individuals 

 to obtain information regarding trade conditions and possibilities 

 of other countries. From 1895 to 1901, 124 of these investi- 

 gators, many of whom are students, were sent abroad by the 

 Government. This plan proved so fruitful that it is being adopted 

 by Japanese business houses. The concern Mitsui Bussan Kaisha 

 has set apart 30,000 yen annually to meet the expense of sending 

 young men to China, and other nations for the promotion of its 

 business. 35 It is quite true that the tastes of people must first be 

 learned before one knows what to offer them. Standards of 

 value must be mastered that prices may be expressed in terms 

 intelligible to the prospective buyer. The customary use of credit 

 and the prevailing rates of interest must also be determined. It 

 was expected by many that the recent political relation between 

 the United States and Cuba would, of itself, tend to increase 

 trade between the two countries and that immediately. It was 

 forgotten that close commercial relations had existed for years 

 between the Cuban merchants and those of Europe, and that on 

 each bill of goods it was customary to extend credit for six to 

 eighteen months. The rate of interest in Cuba being from eight 

 to fifteen per cent made the extension of credit of great impor- 

 tance to the Cuban merchants. The United States merchants not 

 being accustomed to such long credits have, as yet, only partially 

 adapted themselves to the Cuban situation. On the other hand, 

 Germany's commercial importance in South America is largely 

 ascribed to the fact that she sends there commercial travellers 

 who have a knowledge, not only of the German language, but of 

 Spanish and English, and who, moreover, are prepared to give 

 from six to twelve months' credit. Van Cleave says : " But we 

 need something more than a merchant marine to enable us to 

 win new markets, or to hold those which we now have. We must 

 learn the world's needs and tastes in merchandise, and set to 

 work intelligently to supply them. This is particularly true of 

 South America. Partly through better shipping facilities, but 



x Stead, Great Japan, 191-194. 



