ASIATIC INVASION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13757, 23 May 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASIATIC INVASION.

JAPANESE.''AND.'.CHINESE TOUR- ." ISTS LEAVE FOR ENGLAND. The Yellow- invasion of Europe is about to commence in real earnest : Indeed, already, the advance guard of the Japanese forces is on the way, and have landed at San Francisco; Having secured all they desire in America they will cross to Europe. About the time of their arrival in England a similar, force will he leaving Hongkong, the first, .it is believed, ei the great army of Chinese who have determined, to descend upon the United States and various European countries, intent upon taking back with them much newly-acquired mental wealth obtained from the Western nations. Happily, the invasion is a friendly one. the visitors seeking only to obtain information, ideas, and methods. They will be cordially welcomed by representatives of the English-speaking countries, and of the chief Continental nations, and will be j informed by communication of ideas of I the increaseing desire for peace prevailI ing in the West. The plan has originated in that great organising combination of Messrs. XJiomasT'ook and Sons. who. having for many years taken British tourists to China | and' Japan, are now arranging for what it is hoped to be an endless chain of visitors j from the two countries to Europe. The first party of Japanese let! Yokohama on March* 18, and the first' of the Chinese parties left Hongkong on April 22 All the parties will be representative of the banking, commercial, professional, and governing classes of the two countries, and the main object of their tour is to acquaint themselves with the manufacturing" and distributing methods of other nations, as.well as with their systems of currency, exchange, and government. Among those now on the wav from . Japan are the Speaker and a. member of the Tokio Prefect mil Assembly, two' or three members of the Stock Exchange of Tokio, several representatives of. the cotton and silk produce industries and exchanges, two gentlemen indentificd with the manufacture of jewellery, and others connected with the brewing, fishing, transport, clothing, match making, educational, agricultural, oil. banking, and curio interests. There will also be two students from the chief collegiate establishments, the foreign editor of the Asahi Shimbun (Morning Sun) of Tokio, and a representative of the Yushin Shimbun of Kobe.