Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-08-15
TRADE WITH JAPAN.

Interesting statistics OF Japanese
Foreign Commerce-IIow the Unit
ed states Stands.
japan correspondent TO IN, Alta Califor-
MA writes: I'm a recent number of The Alta
appeared an article on the trade of Japan.
The press of the United States has been uni
formly silent on the subject. On the contrary,
The European press is continually urging the
importance of cultivating closer trade rela-
tions with Japan, and the favorable results
clearly appears from the statistics. There Is
no agency so powerful as the press in directing
public attention to any subject, and the failure
to recognize this truth is one reason why the
commerce between the United States and
Japan is not larger and more valuable Other
nations further removed and without equal
facilities are doing the business that should
and can be done by the United States. The
annual return of the foreign trade with Japan
for the year 1886 contains some valuable
statistics, and with hope of awakening an in
terest In the subject submit few for the
consideration of the readers of The Alta:
For 1885 the export trade of Japan amounted
to $37 137, 2I5, while the imports amounted to
s29, S58,967. During the year 1886 the export
trade reached s+s,S75,431, and the import
$50, 163, 432, showing a total OF ISL, OBS, SOB,
while for the previous year it was only $685.
i04, 49, The above figures SHOW an increase
In value for one year over Sl4, 200, 600 A ma
lion that has so recently stepped into the
arena of history and can show such balance
sheet has promise of a future that must be In
iuential in commercial and diplomatic circles.
1t may be interesting to know how this trade
is shared by some of the principal nations of
the west. 1t is certainly important to have
such information.
In 1886, Great Britain bought from Japan,
In round numbers, 81 000,c20 Of merchandise,
and sold to Japan So, C00,6ca During the
same year the United States bought, IN round
numbers, SIG, 900, 0O0 and sold s., 900, 900. IA
1886, Germany bought $4,000 and sold
S2, 900 600. For the same period France bought
80, 0O0, 900, and sold 100000. 1t will be OBJ
served that the balance of trade against the
United States is s13, 900, 900, and France S.
900, 900, while 1t is largely in favor Of Great
Britain and Germany.
While there Is no wish to interfere with the
trade OF any nation, 1t is emphat cally main
tanned that the position of the United States
In the above table is not satisfactory to any
true American citizen. For the past twelve
years our trade relations with Japan have been
permitted to drag their slow but short length
along. Valuable contracts for the construc-
ton Of railroads and fixtures have gone to
Europe, as well as contracts more valuable
still for the building of war ships and for army
and navy supplies. Cotton has been pur chas-
ed from our own fields, shipped across the At
lantic, converted into yarn and cloth by
European looms, and sold to Japan at profit.
Machinery of nearly every description in use
In Japan has a Eurpeau stamp upon 1t, and
all this has been quietly submitted to as II
"a matter of course.n And when the present
American minister sent a report to his gov
eminent, several months ago, directing atten-
| ton to the balance of trade and expressing
the hope that tt would not continue against
his country, he was violently assaled by the
foreign press in Yokohama for discharglns
his duty In such a patriotic manner The
| Al:d referred to the assault and the cause,
and if the influence of the press Of the United
States can be enlisted in the legal and
patriotic effort to stem this unfavorable cur
rent of trade 1t can soon be diverted into
| prosperous channels.