As chief representative of the P. & O. and associated companies in the Far East, he has visited the main ports of Japan, having had discussions With the leading Japanese shipping magnates, and his views on the present state of the country, and the future of British trade in the Far East were given in yesterday's inter-jew, Japan shows no signs of being at war" he said, and there is no sign of distress anywhere, The people are extremely pleasant and one is received with the greatest courtesy."
In answer to a question regarding anti-British sentiments in Japan, Sir George stated that he had not seen any such feelings expressed during his tour of the country, but heOwas inclined to believe that the Customs officials at the ports were a little too officious. The reason for this, in his opinion, was that they were new men who had replaced the regular officials, called to the colours owing to the war in China, and, being young, they were being a little unpleasant towards foreigners, The prices of various commodities in the country were not exorbitant and indeed, there was not a single sign of "hard times" in any of the pla-es he had visited.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.