Japanese-American relations have been of late really good, being marked by an overgrowing amity and goodwill.
I am glad to say that the economic mission which visited the United States some weeks ago have, by their candid exchange of views with various circles, accomplished much towards establishing a closer contact between our two nations, economically and otherwise.
Last year, this country concluded an enti-Comintern agreement with Germany. The Government is striv ing for the effective application of this agreement, and, at the same time. for the furtherance of friendly and intimate relations between Japan and Germany.
Now turning to our trade relations with other countries, obviously the expansion of our export trade constitutes not only an indispensable condition of our national existence, but also one of the most important means of balancing our international accounts under the present economic circumstances in the country.
But, as a matter of fact, foreign Powers, for economic, financial or other reasons, still continue to maintain commercial barriers of various kinds against japanese goods.
The Government is working for a smooth development of our export trade by concluding such individual agreements with the Governments of those countries as may be best suited to their respective circumstances or by arranging private agreements to be arrived at between our business interests and those of other coun-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.