THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1907. TRADE IN THE EAST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8448, 24 May 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1907. TRADE IN THE EAST.

Dr. Morrison's cable to the Times complaining that the Japanese refuse English merchants equal trade opportunities in Manchuria only confirms the general outcry against the harassing restrictions, which Japan is placing on foreign trade in the East. It is in China that Japan's influence has made itself most felt. The Japanese are determined to exploit the country for themselves, and their military successes against Russia have greatly increased their prestige among the Chinese. There seems to be a tacit understanding between the two peoples to impose such conditions as will effectually exclude the foreigner from the trade in the East. The Hamburger Nachrichten, one of the leading commercial papers in Germany, has recently published an interview with a returned merchant who has spent many years in the East. The interview throws some light on the present position of affairs. He complains that the duties in China are being constantly increased against the foreigner, that there is no security for land tenure, and that their interests in mines, etc.-, are being jeopardised by such restrictions and regulations as call for strong representations from the European Powers to protect the rights and property of their subjects. He says that the trade with the ports north of Shanghai is practically destroyed for the foreigner owing to the increased Customs duties and harassing shipping regulations. Shanghai, too, swarms with Japanese traders of the lowest type. They were formerly coolies, and are so destitute of commercial morality that no self-respecting European merchant can do business with them. The same is true of Tientsin. In Manchuria the Japanese have seized all the trade, and the unfortunate Manchurians are now under a yoke of servitude, which makes them bitterly regret the departure of the Russians;

who, at all events, gave them work and comparatively fair wages, i Everywhere the European is subjected to such an organised system of espionage that he finds it difficult to do any business, and he is glad to leave the country. In Corea, European officials have been displaced by Japanese, who monopolise all positions in the Customs, post office, banks, etc. The Coreans a'-e the serfs of Japanese coolies, for they can no longer look to their own Government for protection. At every turn one runs up against a Japanese soldier or i official, and finds his progress barred by the magic words "entrance forbidden." The writer concludes: "When one considers what rich districts Manchuria and Corea, especially the latter, are for agriculture, and what aptitude the Coreans and Manchurians show for work in the fields, it is truly to be regretted that the Europeans are allowing, themselves to be ejected from so promising a field by the grasping little brown man." After all England's is only a defensive alliance with Japan. Dr. Morrison's cable seems to indicate that even British merchants are beginning to feel the effects of the restrictions of which the Germans so bitterly complain, and that Japan's policy is to exploit China, Manchuria, and Corea as her own especial fields for commercial expansion.

When we recently referred at some length to "The Masterton Trustees Empowering Act, 1902," we fully expected that there would be some opposition to our view of the matter, and we were well aware that there were many people not acquainted with the circumstances of the case, but we did not anticipate that there was anyone in the community who would attach supreme importance to an illegal cffer made by certain of the Trustees, and' which does not affect the true position between the Government and the people of Masterton in any way whatever. We hope that eachooff f the candidates for election to the Trust at the approaching contest will carefully study all the facts, and make his opinion thereon known to the voters in no uncertain manner. The question is one of decided importance to the Trust Lands Trust, and should be considered dispassionately, and apart from either political or personal feeling.