1901.] 



COIVIMERCIAL JAPAJ^^. 



2263 



Fertilizers were imported to the amount of 7,934,189 yen in 1899. If improvements were made incur marine interests these 

 enormoiiK imports would be superseded by our own country, as the country is located mo.st advantajrciouslv for securinj^ fertilizen?, and 

 it has ijood customers for them in its near nci;,dibors. This industry would be great in the future, and would have a great influence on 

 the wi'alth of the country, for the natural field is very great and the product is exhaustless. The only thing needed ia encouragement 

 from the Government. 



ARTICLE III. TEADE. 



Trade is the result of differences in comparative cost of producing the articles traded in, though this law is limited by the natural 

 hindrances to trade and the competition of different countries. A countrj derives great advantages from foreign trade, which i.s in one 

 point of view a development of the division of employments, and is at once a cause and an index of civilization. Question.s of trade are 

 every day becoming more prominent in Japan as well as political questions, of Oriental diplomacy, and they occasionally even overshadow 

 political ones. Competition for the world's markets must necessarily become keener as the struggle for existence becomes more severe. 

 The means to secure this trade must be carefully considered by the state and individuals, and are already being carried out with method 

 and zeal on all sides. 



Not only are almost all commodities of our country transported in foreign vessels, but the trade of the country is also carried on by 

 foreign merchants. More than 67 per cent of our exports and imports in 1898 were by foreign merchants. Why, having the Ixrst location, 

 in the center of the Oriental trade, with the best facilities, can not we conduct our own merchandising? Of" course trade never exists 

 without the development of internal and external transportation and industry. Now, it is the chief duty of our people and the Govern- 

 ment to investigate this matter; for the country has already many customers in the United States and Europe, and it ought to control 

 the Oriental trade. Let us observe the trading power of the Orient and of other countries with which our trade is not yet very active. 



1. China in a few years, whether division of that country takes place or Russia controls it or the country stands independent, 

 will be a great customer for our copper, marine products, pottery, matches, cotton goods, and silk; and in ijayment we can get food and 

 other supplies. The demand which China will make upon us will be the greatest she makes on the world, Ijecause she has over 



advantage because of nearness and the larger population in China. 



2. Trade with eastern Russia will also become great in the future. Our imports of her abundant crops and meats and her general 

 demands on Japan for manufactured goods in payment will be very great. 



3. The trade of Korea is already in our hands, but needs more development. 



4. With the Philippines, Sumatra, Annum, Siam, and the neighboring islands trade will be great in exchanging silk goods, fans, 

 pottery, copper, and coal, for which we will get sugar, hemp, etc., for these countries usually exceed in exports; so there is opportunity 

 to increase our exports of manufactured goods. 



5. British Australasia is still in process of development, having about 3,000,000 square miles, with near 4.973,900 population, and ig 

 going to be very prosperous. Japan will be able to exchange her tea, silk and other manufactui-ed goods with that country for wool and 

 other luxuries. Great attention must be paid to Australasian trade, for it has great promise. 



6. India: England controls everything; but India needs our cotton goods, pottery, wood ware, and copper in exchange for raw cotton, 

 salt, and pine and oak lumber. 



7. New York and Boston trade: The Nicaragua Canal would reduce the cost of transportation from Japan to New York anil Boston 

 by about 30 per cent; for the charge by railroad is five times greater than ship transportation, though the latter takes a longer time. 



should have good (locks and shipyards she would be the place for repairs, coaling, etc., and thus our trade would become more prosperous 

 and our coal trade Avould be great. 



Owing to the great attraction of Oriental commerce, competition for that trade will become greater, and commerce will concentrate 

 in the most convenient places. As the greatest market is in the East, the East will attract the merchant fleets of all nations. Its favorable 

 situation at the starting point of an important line of transport will undoubtedly cause Japan io flourish. It is a proud and high duty 

 to bring our country to the center of this great Oriental trade of the whole world. 



I v/ould like to add two more suggestions before the conclusion. The important thing in foreign trade is to gain intimate acquaint- 

 ance with the customers; to know their tastes and discover the articles which they can not produce, or the high cost of produc.ion of 

 which forbid them to compete. If nothing better offers, let our consular otiicers go into business circles and endeavor to tind in foreign 

 ports new outlets for the products of our country, and seek to develop the trade already existing. For instance, Japan can make 

 handsome bonnets, but does not know how to meet the requirements of fashion in the United States and Europe. Therefore the bright 

 and active consul abroad, with a perfect knowledge of foreign wants, tastes, and methods, is necessary. Another very important and 

 necessary thing is to give the peoi)le technical and business education. Through lack of this education merchants are not trustworthy, 

 delaying the date of orders, changing contracts, selling things ordered to other and higher bidders, and oftc. furnishing goods of lower 

 quality. Hence our merchants can not sell goods by samjiles. England made great i>rogress in business by her sales by samples. So 

 sales by samples ought to be made in our foreign trade, and we should transact business in foreign markets with the prices fixed on the 

 samples. 



AKTICLE IV. CONCLUSION. 



The w'orld's statistics show that where there are great facilities of transportation industry and trade flourish. Where industry is 

 prosperous transjxjrtation and trade are very active, and where trade is steady the other two improve: the three are always supplementary 

 to one another. One feature is not ]n'osperous witliout the others. The better the improvement of transportation the easier the 

 communication, the more benefit to industry and trade. The more improvement in industry the more production, the more increase of 

 trade the less will be the cost of transportation. The oi)ening of the Suez Canal brought European civilization fully to the Orient. The 

 great chain of railway through Siberia, and the Nicaragua Canal, which will be completed within the next few years, will bring more 

 commercial prosperity to the Orient. Japan will become the great battlefield for the world's conunerce, both for the termini of foreign 

 trade routes from Europe to the United States and for the trade itself. The importance of internal and external transportation will 

 become still greater, and it will be necessary to have a great surplus of manufactured products in the connnodity tight to win the game. 



The abundance of water in rivers running down in such narrow channels, and the enormous fields of coalj with railroad facilities. 



