CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 41

November 24th lylo.

39

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SEEK-

In accordance with Your Excellency's instructions I interviewed Messrs Mitsui & Company's representative to-

day with regard to the mark which they use on their

antimony in New York, to the effect that it is sold with-

out and restriction as to export."

It happened that the gentlemen I saw was I. Yasuda,

Mesars Mitsui & Company's New York metal man who is now

in Japan and he told me that he was responsible for

drafting the wording of the said advertisement.

His explanation was as follows: -

He said the Mitsuie were, at the time he prepared

this advertisement (about April last), unable to get any

antimony direct from China, and that all their supplies

consisted of antimony, coming originally from China but

refined in Japan. For this reason he explained that

Mitsuis were not bound by the restrictions as to export

which hampered other dealers in Antimony. **e stated

that there were three or four big speculadors who expect-

ed a large demand for Antimony from Canada but who hesi-

tated to buy the metal in America on account of the res-

trictions as to export.

I asked him whether it was not possible to obtain

special permission in the case of export to British pos- sessions or allied countries, but he said he thought this was not the case and in any event these speculators did

not care to take this added risk.

For this reason he was unable to obtain better prices for his antimony than his competitors were getting. I

Excellency

Right Honourable

Bir Conyngham Greene, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.,

H.B.M. Ambassador

etc., etc.. etc.

TOKYO.

asked