Report on commercial and tourist propaganda tour of Seattle, Vancouver (British Columbia) and Portland.

Having been asked by the Seattle and Portland Chambers of Commerce and by the Board of Trade of Vancouver to visit them and talk about Indochina and its products, I left San Francisco on August 11th to return on the 30th of the same month. (...) From Vancouver, I returned to Seattle to go to Portland. This city of 300,000 inhabitants is wonderful. Not to mention the cleanliness, the wonderful sites, the well-maintained streets and boulevards, the coquetry and stvle of its dwellings, the commercial activity is enormous, and Portland's business community is forging ahead and understanding the future. Portland, the center of many industries, lies on the Columbia River, only six hours from the ocean (Seattle and Vancouver are ten to twelve hours away). The river, very wide and deep, is very well equipped for all kinds of handling. The municipality, which understands the importance of the city it administers, is proceeding in accordance with its views and in agreement with the Chamber of Commerce and the port management. I went to visit the new docks (Port Terminal) which have just been completed. It's really interesting and important. In each dock, six large cargo-boats of 9,000 to 12,000 tons range can fit comfortably, three on each side. The sheds can accommodate considerable quantities of goods. Everything is modernized. As the city's industries absorb quite a lot of vegetable oil, large tanks have been set up next to the docks, and special piping allows the oil to be pumped directly on board the steamers without interfering with other loading and unloading operations. Adjacent to the docks are an oil mill, a grain elevator and a flour mill. I must have the plans for the new docks and all related information, and will send them to you as an appendix to this report. I should add that two identical docks are currently under construction, and that the equipment and railroad used for loading, unloading and transportation operations are owned by the municipality. The new docks are two-storey, and a kind of moving walkway for car trucks will enable them to pass from one floor to the other. Toyo Kisen Kaisha understands the importance of Portland, and has decided to make it its liner hub for mixed cargo and passenger liners bound for Japan, China and Singapore. It will also make Portland the port of call for those going to and returning from South America. I've made contact with two or three companies through the Chamber of Commerce for teas and rice. They are also interested in coffee, and I would like to receive samples from Tonkin as soon as possible, with exportable quantities and F.O.B. Hai-phong prices. Ores can have an excellent outlet here, and I should be sent some from Tonkin. There will be quite a lot to do on this side, but without samples, it's impossible to work. I would be grateful if you could pass on these suggestions to the Tonkin mining groups.

San Francisco, September 7, 1920. The commercial attaché of Indochina in the United States. Signed: Giraud