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as it seems to be improbable that she will exert herself to promote her domestic commerce and industry to a great extent. Such being the case, several Powers of the world are competing with one another to develop the abundant resources of China with their own funds by means of the construction of railways, the setting up of various industries, the undertaking of mining operations, etc. If the resources of China, whose population numbers over 400,000,000, are greatly developed by foreigners, our trade with China is sure to make marked progress, and we shall be able to supply that neighbouring country with large quantities of commodities before it becomes fully developed.
The foreign trade of Japan has made considerable progress since the Restoration of 1868, with the United States of America as her best customer. But we must not rest contented with this, but try to make China a great market for our products. It is evident that our trade has to make progress under the rule of demand and supply, for if there is no demand for our products we cannot promote our trade, however much we may have to supply. Then, it is very necessary for us to extend gradually the market for our products while promoting the production of the country. In my opinion, China is a country to demand our products to a much greater extent, and to become our best customer in the future, so that it behoves us to always pay a keen attention to the state of affairs in that country.
It will be seen from the above statements that, merely from the point of view of our trade relations with China, it is a very important question which requires our careful consideration. Besides, we have a great interest in the changes of the political state of affairs in China, so that in some cases our country might stand in such a position as not to be able to look upon them with passive inactivity. Under these circumstances, it is very necessary for our country to complete its military preparations and to put the state of finance upon a sound basis as soon as possible. I think the Government should be bending their efforts toward making various necessary preparations, but the people must also bear the above facts in their minds and take steps to provide for contingencies.