Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 73-20,652
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A HISTORY OF TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Wren, Benjamin Lee, 1931- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 04/10/2021 16:08:50 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/288048 INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Paga(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting thru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. You will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from left to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again — beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 73-20,652 WREN, Benjamin Lee, 1931- A HISTORY OF TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA. The University of Arizona, Ph.D., 1973 History, modern University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan (g) COPYRIGHTED BY BENJAMIN LEE WREN 1973 THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. A HISTORY OF TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA by Benjamin Lee Wren A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 7 3 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE I hereby recommend that this dissertation prepared under my direction by Benjamin Lee Wren entitled A History of Trade Relations Between Japan and the United States in the New Orleans Area be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy /•' / / 3 -.PC^ Dissertation Director Date After inspection of the final copy of the dissertation, the follov/ing members of the Final Examination Committee concur in its approval and recommend its acceptance:- This approval and acceptance is contingent on the candidate's adequate performance and defense of this dissertation at the final oral examination. The inclusion of this sheet bound into the library copy of the dissertation is evidence of satisfactory performance at the final examination. STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without t.pecial permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: ____L/V»v + ho TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT vi CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS ... 6 3. NEW ORLEANS AND JAPAN IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY ......... 19 First Reports Concerning the Japanese ... 23 Internal Conflict Both in Japan and New Orleans 29 First Direct Contact ..... 33 Lafcadio Hearn 39 Obstacles 52 The Dream Remained 64 4. NEW ORLEANS' PRE-WAR TR^DE WITH JAPAN, 1900-1941 71 The First Trade Boom 80 Other Trade Commodities 88 Japanese Shipping 91 Major Obstacles to the Pre-War Trade .... 95 5. CHANGING ATTITUDES OF NEW ORLEANS TOWARD THE JAPANESE, 1900-1945 108 Early Immigration * 108 Early Cultural Contact 110 Japanese Consulate and Japan Society .... 113 The Image of Japan Changes 117 Racism and Immigration 123 Pearl Harbor 128 The Nisei Problem 130 Summation 136 iv V TABLE OF CONTENTS—Continued Page 6. THE RISING SUN ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 1945-1969 140 Foundation for the Trade Boom 140 International House . <> 142 Japanese Shipping . 148 Foreign Trade Zone #2 ........... 151 Other Major and Minor Reasons Contributing to Trade 154 Potential of New Orleans Realized by Japan ..ooOGoeooooaaooe. 162 Summatio in ooo.ooo.ooo. .o... 163 7. POST-WAR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS 170 Japanese Consulate Reopened ... 171 Japan Society of New Orleans . 173 Paintings, Jazz, and Ikebana 178 Lack of Academic Preparation 184 New Orleans' Cosmopolitan Spirit 191 Other Problems ..... 195 Summation 202 8. CONCLUSION 205 APPENDIX A. CAUTION 209 APPENDIX B. EARLY TRADE WITH THE ORIENT BY RAILROAD BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND THE WEST COAST AS INDICATED IN NEW ORLEANS COTTON EXCHANGE SECRETARY'S REPORT FOR THE RESPECTIVE YEARS .... 210 APPENDIX C. TRADE OF JAPAN WITH NEW ORLEANS, 1952-1969, BASED ON DATA FROM THE STATISTICAL RESEARCH DIVISION OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS 211 APPENDIX D. EXAMPLES OF THE TRADE OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS WITH JAPAN 212 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 214 ABSTRACT This study describes the development of trade over the past one hundred years between Japan and New Orleans. In the past decade, Japan has become the major trading partner of New Orleans, which is the second largest port of the United States. A close look at the pre-Pacific War trade statistics, trade missions, shipping lines, and Cotton Exchange records reveals a passive attitude on the part of the New Orleans business community toward Japanese trade. The growth of trade was made possible largely by the initiative of the Japanese who actively promoted trade in cotton and scrap metal in the 1920's. The development of a flourishing trade between Japan and New Orleans has not been accompanied by a parallel increase in social and cultural relations. Althouch the economic life of these two parts of the world has been intimately connected—since the Pacific War there has been a close correlation between the economic recovery of Japan and the economic expansion and industrialization of the South—economic relations have been carried out in a social and cultural vacuum. Despite the city's reputation for its cosmopolitan spirit, the people of New Orleans, for the most part, have remained ignorant of Japanese history and culture. Judging from the paucity of courses on Asia in vi vii the school system, the lack of interest in Japanese cultural events, and the continued existence of dis criminatory laws against the Japanese, one is forced to conclude that thriving trade between Japan and New Orleans did not lead to greater cultural contact. This study suggests that long-standing racial prejudice against the Blacks in New Orleans was an important factor in defining relations with the Japanese. Just as the local trade with Blacks was carried on in a social and cultural vacuum, so Japanese traders were isolated from the social life of the city. Although trade has been historically one of the major vehicles for change, the lively Japanese trade at New Orleans has yet to challenge the social class system of that city. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This study is a history of trade and cultural rela tions at New Orleans with the Japanese. The Japanese trade has become very important to New Orleans, the second largest port of the United States. Since the middle of the 1960's Japan has been New Orleans' dominant trade partner. This study is the first historical work that deals with the Japanese-American relations in the New Orleans area. New Orleans has always shown an interest in Japan and a desire for trade with her since the days of Perry's Expedition in 1853. Until recent times, however, New Orleans did not play an active role in encouraging Japanese trade. Prior to the Pacific War, the Japanese took the initiative in overcoming the obstacles standing in the way of trade with New Orleans, such as distance, time, alien culture, and the lack of an active interest in Japanese trade on the part of the New Orleans people. The Japanese came, learned the language and the customs of the South, either hired members on the New Orleans Cotton Exchange or joined themselves, and made use of the local brokers. After the United States built the Panama Canal, the Japanese came in their own ships and entered into the "country trade" 1 2 of the Gulf Coast and Latin America and also traded with Europe during the First World War.