ABSTRACT
The concept of a free trade treaty among developed countries has attracted the attention of the Japanese for a variety of reasons. Since Japan, though now persuaded that she must be more generous than in the past, regards herself as too weak financially to carry the main burden of providing aid and investment, the possibility of associating the developed countries both of the Pacific and of the Atlantic with plans for South-East Asian development makes a strong appeal. On the economic side, a free trade treaty of the widest possible extent is recognised to accord, in principle, with the interests of the most rapidly growing economy in the world, especially as its progress in future is likely to become increasingly dependent on ample opportunities for foreign trade. The agricultural problem is more intractable. The permanent preservation of a rural society of small peasants is longer regarded as practical policy, despite the support still given, agriculture is rapidly shrinking in size.
