JAPAN AND EMIGRATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9692, 17 January 1910, Page 4

JAPAN AND EMIGRATION.

Addressing the members of the Japanese Commercial Mission now touring America, prior to their departure from Tokio, Count Komura, the Foreign Minister, made some important remarks on Japanese emigration. He s»id: —"Prior to the war with Russia the Japanese Government e.couraged the emigration of its subjects to foreign countries. But as the consequence of the great conflict Japan bas emerged from the position of an insular nation, and has become a Continental Power. This change, which has opened to our people a wider sphere of activity and achievement within their own precinits, has necessitated a radical alteration in our policy with regard to emigration. We need no longer entertain any apprehension as to the disposition of our surplus population. On the contrary, we hope that our population will increase with greater rapidity, so that we may be belter ablw to carry out the mission upon which we have embarked. Further-

more, our advantage in commerce ■ and industry lies in the cheap labour of which we haw abundance, In order to maintain this advantage in the international rivalry for commercial supremacy, it.ij important that we should refrain from encouraging the emigration of our labourers to foreign countries. In view of these facts, Japan has determined not to allow the emigration of its labourers to Western countries, and especially Canada and the United States. An other point which I ask you to re • member is that China and the United States are the best customers for our products. Considered both politically and commercially, then, it is imperative that we should preserve the friendship of the American nation."