[19]. In 1903, Japan’s American trade was much below that of 1902. The latter showed an increase of 362 per cent. over 1890.
[20]. The actual figures were:—
| European | American | Japanese | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 57,200,000 yen | 36,700,000 yen | 45,700,000 yen |
| 1903 | 166,900,000 yen | 95,900,000 yen | 295,900,000 yen |
[21]. In East Asia are included Korea, China, Hong-kong, British India, French Indo-China, Dutch East Indies, the Straits Settlements, Siam, the Philippines, and Russian Eastern Asia. If Hong-kong, an essentially transit-trade port, is excluded, the East Asiatic trade of Japan amounts to 264,476,239 yen, or 43.6 per cent. of the entire foreign trade of Japan. See the Kwampō (Official Gazette of Japan), No. 6199 (March 4, 1904), p. 74, table 4.
Of the three great divisions of Japan’s markets, Europe sells her machineries and articles of general consumption, and buys in return such peculiar products of her soil as silks and teas. East Asia, including India and the southern islands, takes coal and manufactured goods in general and furnishes cotton, food-stuffs, and other articles of more direct need than the European goods. America occupies a unique position in regard to Japan, as it combines to a large extent the peculiarities of both Europe and East Asia: it exports to Japan cotton and flour, besides machinery and goods of general consumption, and imports from her, not only raw silk and tea, but also smaller manufactured articles.
[22]. Oil-cakes are used as manure. As to rice, wheat, and flour, it is unnecessary to say that their importation depends largely upon the conditions of the crop at home.
[23]. The present author has often met persons who misinterpreted the “open door” to mean the complete throwing open of a country to the ruthless exploitation of the foreigner. The “open door,” it is needless to say, merely negatives a differential treatment in favor of one or more foreign nations at the expense of all the others. It does not necessarily imply a wide opening, but an impartial, even if narrow, opening for all nations.
[24]. Consult the British Diplomatic and Consular Reports, Annual Series, Nos. 2995 and 2999; the U. S. Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance, January, 1904, pp. 2410–1; the Kokumin, September 19–21, 1901; Minister Kiyoura’s address before the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, February, 1904.
[25]. The figures were taken from the Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance of the United States for February, 1904, p. 3006.
[26]. From ibid., p. 3006. In 1903, rice imported amounted to 51,960,000 yen in value. The Fourth Annual, p. 77.