"CREEPING SOUTH."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 30 May 1913, Page 4

"CREEPING SOUTH."

The other clay in 'Sydney, the Acting Consul-General for Japan, Mr Yatabe, had something to say in reply to a statement published in an interview regarding the alleged inclination of the Japanese to "creep south." .Mr C«. K. Toottom, who had spent eight years in business in Japan and Korea, had, in the course of an interview stated that there could he no doubt that there was a decided inclination on the part «f the Japanese to "creep south." Mr Yatabe was emphatic in declaring that, no such feeling existed in Japan. The Japanese policy, he said, was one of peaee; politics did not make any

difference in this respect, Referring I to the immigration restriction lavs, Mr Yatabe said that if they were set! aside to-morrow there would not be much increase in the departures from Japan. "Our Government are anxious to encourage local manufacturing industries," he said, "and in order to keep these going we look to China,' Korea, Formosa, and Australia for the raw material. Our chief desire is to J keep the bulk of our people at home, j The development of our local industries is a great feature of the policy of our Government." Although there was not much room in Japan, and not many places to go to, the Japanese Government took every possible precaution to prevent people from emigrating to lands where it was not the desire of friendly Powers that they should go. The 'manufacturing industries of Japan, continued the Acting-Consul, were developing, and by this means they were hoping to give additional employment to the people of the country. Several Jap anese merchants disclaimed any hostility towards Australia, and said there was plenty of room in Japan for her millions of people.