THE Jupan Daily Mail of the 28th of December last has a full report of a very able address delivered on John Barrett, who is described -in United States' papers as the rising American diplomat. His address is of special interest to us as, on his return here on Monday next, Mr. Barrett is engaged to deliver a public address, under the auspices of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, in which he will treat exhaustively the; situation in the Far East; and we therefore now extract somewhat copiously from his Tokio address. In its introductory remarks the Yedpan Mail says:—
The Hon. John Barrett, Into American Minister to Siam, delive St i esting and instructive address on' subjects of much importance to Japan, on Sunday, the 25th, at the hall of the Tmperial Educational Society, Tokio, before a lange audience composed of members and invited guests of the Oriental Society. The speaker, who is regarded as one of the best American authorities on Far Eastern questions, was four years in Siam, where he made an excellent record as a diplomat, conducting to a successful conclusion many important negotiations. "His oficial reports and contributions to Reviews on America's interest in Asia have wide-spread attention. On leaving Siam in May, he. went to the Phill remained until about the first of Nov Since then he has been travelling in China, including a visit, to Peking, studying political and commercial conditions before returning to America. Although invited some time ago to address the Oriental Society this was his first opportunity to accept. The last address before the Society was delivered by Eatl Spencer, and the next is expected to be by Lord Charles, Beresford. Mr. Barrett returns to Shanghai about the 4th: of January to speak on the Philippines under the auspices of the General Chamber of Commerce. From there he returns to Washington vid India and Europe. He lis been asked to deliver addresses in both London and New York on the Eastern situation. Among the prominent members of the Society present to hear the distinguished speaker Were H.Il. Prince Tokugawa, Capt. Saito, 'Vice-Minister of the Navy, Mr. Watanabe, of the Hour. of Peers, Mr. Sutemi Chinda, Japanese Minister to Brazil, Mr. Manjiro Inagaki, Japanese Minister' to Siam, and Hon. Secretary of the Society, Mr. VU. Sasano, of the Foreign Office, Mr. Nakamiura of the Home Ofice, "Ins. Matsuura, and many other well-known meiiibers.
Mr. Barrett was -introduced_ to his audience by Mr. Inagaki, a, former colleague at Bangkok, and his remarks were interpreted into Japanese by Mr. Midori Komatsu, secretary and interpreter at the 'Foreign Office. Mr. Barrett began by saying' that he wanted to lay before the Society certain conditions and facts that had come under his observation in the Far East, of importance to Japan as well as the United States and other great Powers interested in the Pacific. He went on to express the interest he had long felt in Japan: "For Japan, for his Majesty your Emperor, for your statesmen and for your people I have that profound Tespect which is born of a close study of the wonderful ise and present progress of the Japanese Empire. History does not record its parallel." He then spoke of the interest taken in Japan by tie United, States, and so'passed: on to the question of the new treaties. He sai As a foreign representative of the United States, it has been my lot to study and exercise jurisdiction under extraterritorial treaties. While recognising. their inconsistencies, weaknesses, and, anomalies, have also noted their absolute necessity under certain conditions, aiid in certain lands. Japan is about to demonstrate tothe would that the necessity of such treaties no longer exists inside her borders. May I not then, as an unprejudiced student of politics, and as anxious as if I were Japanese for the success of the new system, express the hope that as a-government and people you will practise a liberality' of Spixit towards foreigners and foreign interests in both the enacting and thr administration of laws that will surely touch a'responsive chord of gratitude and appreciation throughout the world.
Mr. Batrett then took up the consideration of the entrance of the 'United States into the field of Asiatic politics. Whereas a few months ago Japan was separated from the States nearly five thousand miles' of sea, it was now only'three hundred imiies, or one day's steaming, from Japanese territory in Formosa to United States' territory in the Philippines The great stream of ocean commerce that pours through the Suez Canal and the Straits of Malncea on its way to and from the, Far East and Europe passes by the front door of the Philippines and will in the near future make Manila ari important port of call not unlike Yokohama on the marine highway that leads, on the other hand, to and from America.' From Manila to Port Darwin, in Northern Australia, is only 1,690 miles and steamers on the route from the ports of China pan will soon find it to their advantage to stop en route at Manila, After touching on the size and population of the Philippines, their manifold products, and their demands, and showing what a deep interest these statements had for Japanese traders, Mr. Barrett continued This leads up to the "'all-iiiportant question; what will be the policy of the nited States in the matter of duties or customs? Will these be differential, in favour of the United States, or will they be the same for all nations including' the United States? As this isa query which all commercial rations are waiting' to have answered, it is not probable that it will be definitely decided until the pros and cons of both sides are fully discussed in the United States' Congress and in the ye fully made up their mind to open or Press, or until the American people close the door of trade in all their new acquisitions.
question cannot be now answered more than to say that no one in America, not even the President, yet knows what Jaws will permanently govern the administration of the Philippines and the customs. Sentimentin America is much divided on this point and from the home standpoint there are strong arguments in favour of either side. I think, however, that Iam free to say that, owing to the present agitation over the open door policy in China, there is a strong feeling "in favour of maintaining a "fair field and no favour" in the Philippines.
I will not, on the other hand, hide the fact that there is prospect of a high protective or discriminating tariff being applied as an experiment through the influence of the high protection element in one
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.