In spite of the disadvantages inevitably attached to an inaugural effort by an Eastern Power at colonization on Western lines, and the obstacles in her path caused by geographical conditions and the insubordination of an aboriginal population, Japan has pursued an optimistic policy which events have largely justified. The development of Formosa both as a centre of pro duction and in the sphere of commerce was shown to some extent at the recent Japanese Exhibition in London, where its output of tea, camphor, sugar and coal created considerable interest. The most recent figares on the subject are contained in the Diplomatic and Consular Report on the trade of the island for 1910, drawn up by Mr. J. B. Rentiers, the British Consul, and submitted to Parliament in August last. For that year the total trade of the island amounted to £11,111,467, increase over that of 1909 of £2,475,692. OF this total £10,115,307 passed through the four open ports of Tamsui, Keelung, Takow and Anping; the balance passing through seven ports open only to jank traffic and trading with Chinese ports. This shows an increase of £1,482,771 over that of the preceding year. Of this trade £3,101,099 was with foreign countries and £7,014,208 with Japan, showing respective increases of £788,006 and £704,765. Practically no change has occurred in the proportion between foreign and Japanese trade the former stands at 21, the latter at 79 per cent. It is instructive to compare these figures with those contained in Mr. J. W. Davidson's
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.