IN FAIR JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1173, 7 July 1911, Page 2

IN FAIR JAPAN

« A CONSUL'S IMPRESSIONS, THE SHI RASE EXPEDITION. The Land of Nippon, seen through the eyes ol one of lis colonial' agents iroiii oversea, is a somewhat dilkrciit luml iroiii unit wludi ii plica its Id tills Heeling gazo oi lile oruinary tourist. ill', 'i. lining, Now /.uajaiiii Consul 101' Japan, lias jiisi ri'iunii'u mini n most enjojamu nonuay lour 111 tliat inlercsdii;; cuumry. Enjoying, as ne iiul, tile privileges accoiiiL'il u an oversea agent 01 the -\IU;auo b Government, Jlr. lumig was ame to gel liuo clow: touch witn the pcupio who live under (lie aegis or the L'liiysiinUieinuni I'lag, and e\ery where lie weal was receiveu \um tlie greatest hospitality, courtesy, ami attention. Pro-British Sentiment. The Japanese people, Mr. Young remarked to a representative of Tim llojiimox during the course of a conversation, aro very proud of their alliance with Britain; it is a national sentiment, everywhere in evidence, Railway tickets are printed in English anuJaiianese; tne names ol the railway stations are displayed in Ijo th languages; it is the same witn hotel menus, anu so on. In Japan, as in the European embassies, Frencii is the language ol diplomacy. liut English is tho great popular medium of interconiniunication between fnu Japanese and their oversea visitors —it is the language of commerce, in a manner of speaking. During his stay in Japan Jtr. iloung was accorded an audience with the Emperor who does not speak English. Tho conversation was therefore conducted through an interpreter. 110 was entertained at uu olicial banquet by the Minister for ioreign Affairs, and also by Count Okuma, Japan's greatest statesman, at a banquet given under the auspices of tho Japanese Antarctic Exploration Association, of which Count Okuma is president. The Antarctic Explorers. Mr. Young was also entertained by the committee, of the association, at dinner. "T should like it to be made known," said Mr. Young, "that there is no doubt; whatever about the bona fides of Commander Shirase's expedition to the Antarctic. Tho Japanese Antarctic Explorai tion Association is supported by the leading scientists in Japan.. When the news was received that the expedition had returned to Sydney without having readied its objective, great disappointment' was felt, and the association immediately took steps to raise further funds and purchase a large number of dogs with the object of ninldng another attempt this year." Mr. .Young's attention was drawn to a suggestion which had been made in certain quarters hero, that the members of Commander Shirase's expedition were more intimately acquainted with the English language than they would have the public believe. Further, that a statement, had been put into circulation that' certain members of the party went to u local bookseller's shop and purchased several English novels. To this Mi. Young replied that so favas the members of the ex pedition proper were concerned, not one of them could speak a word of English. 'They understood a little, but not sufficient to maintain a conversation—hence their reserve. "As for tho story of book purchase, that is an exaggeration," said , Mr. Young. "It is true that they bought certain books, but solely with the object of studying our language. They could road English better than they could speak it." A Tariff Wall. Questioned as to Japan's relations with tlie outside world, with particular . reference to the new. tariff and immigration,, Mr. Young explained that in. order to foster their local manufactures, . tlie Japanese had decided upon a protective tariff, which would conic into operation this month. By. reason of the very small wages paid, manufactured nrticlas could bo produced .at a very low cost—at the Asliio copper mines, where 15,000 hands were employed, the rate of wages was Oil. per day. Cpntrnstcd with tho wage ■rates in-vogue .in - pthw. countries where from Bs. per. day and upwards was paid, these economic .conditions, wore favourable to a. tremendous development of' the ' n'atura]'resources', df tho country.

.' What is-the general opinion, in Japan, regarding 'ohr immigration, policy?' "The feeling that they are not wanted here has created resentment —they don't like it," replied Mr. Young. The Consul, however, declined to be drawn on the subject of Japan's immigration policy.