JAPAN TO-DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2302, 22 September 1908, Page 4

JAPAN TO-DAY.

ALL HOUND DEPRESSION. Capt. Hal ton, of Uu> sli'iimor Mortlnk(>, winch n i rived at AitckJa ml from tho Far East recently, gave expression to some, pointed remarks concerning the Japanese in conversation with a Still reporter. ' Capt. Hatton was in Japan during the war with Huisia, and eonseqiieiillv claims to have intimate knowledge «jf the “little brown mini.’’ THE BOYCOTT. Quest ioned as to the possibility of an early cessation of the Chinese boycott "of- Japaneso _ goods, Capt. Ballon w:m most positive in his assertions to the contrary. “They are very reticent about the etl'ect the boycott has had on their trade in Japan, but l had if on good authority that during the first six mouths Japanese merchants hid lost something like ehdit millions, yet the Japanese reckon now that they will be able to settle the Chinaman in a short time; lull .1 was on the mainland recon tIv, and there J was given to understand that the Chinese would hold out ns long is they can, to teach tho Japanese a lesson. And the Japs want' to ho taught a lesson, for they are getting too cheeky.” SA.VAO lAS AT BOTTOM. Continuing, he said that the Japanese were greatly overestimated. "They are savages at bottom. It is true they have a veneer of civilisatVm, bin it is n very thin veneer, and when you come to look into them, you tiiul they are no moro than savages.'’ milTlSll INFLUENCE. “When the war was on, there was no nation like Britain. The Britishers In Japan at that time were treated with the greatest respect, because where assistance was needed they expected us to come to their aid. But since England stopped that cheque from Hussia passing through tho Bank of England because Japan had a little account lo settle with us, we have sunk pretty low in the Japs’ favor. During the war ho could not say too much in our favor; now ho rails against us for all lie is worth. In Tokio, the capital, the feeling is very acute, for it was contemplated to spend the Russian money in constructing electric tubus, and like things there, in imitation ot London.” DEPRESSION OE TRADE. “Since the war, business has been terrible —absolutely nothing doing. The Japtuiese shipowners bought up all the vessels they could lay hands on, with tho idea of forcing all the competitors of other nations out of the China sea trade and tho adjacent waters. But they did not succeed. The load was too heavy, and they havo a largo number of vessels lying idle in their harbors. _ Quito one-third of the shipowners in Japan at tho present timo are on the verge of bankruptcy.” The captain hero got back to his estimato of the Jap, and remarked in conclusion: “I have had some years’ experience of the Japanese, and in my opinion they arc absolutely over-rated. As regards their intelligence and ability, simply mimics and haven’t an original idea in their heads. “But they are rather good mimics,” the reporter interjected. “Oil, yes; splendid.” And the stripper then proceeded to his cabin with a remark by no means complimentary to the Japs.