"To hear the Japanese plead for free trade is like hearing the word love on the lips of a harlot"

This quote by Lane Kirkland is a metaphor comparing the Japanese plea for free trade to the words of a harlot. The metaphor indicates that the Japanese plea for free trade is insincere and untrustworthy. Kirkland is suggesting that the Japanese are not really thinking about free trade, however rather are using it as a way to an end. He indicates that the Japanese are using open market as a way to gain a benefit over other nations, and that their motives are not pure. The quote suggests that the Japanese are not to be relied on and that their words must be taken with a grain of salt. Kirkland's quote is a cautioning to be careful of the Japanese plea free of charge trade and to be aware of their true intents.