The times., 1899-01-09
GERNANY'S SUBSIDY line
Contracts With the Lloyds for
Eastern Asia Trade.
TO RUN FOR FIFTEEN YEARS
First Ships to BE Completed ny First
of Next OctOber-Othcrs to He
Placed in Commission in Sepfcn-
Der aud November. IO00-To he tp-
proved by the Admiralty.


which other nations, as we'll as the United
States, are now feeling is illustrated in
recent subsidy agreement made by the Ger
man government by which it proposes 10
pay more than a million dollars year for
a fifteen-year term for the establishment of
steamship lines to ply between its ports
and those of Japan, China and Australasia
and certain ports of Oceanica. That the
German government and those of its citi-
zens participating in its commerce should
feel a special interest in the trade of the
Orient is not surprising in view of the
fact that its exports to that part OF the
world have quadrupled during the past
decade.
a copy of the contract between the Ger
man government and the Lloyd steamship
line for the establishment and maintenance
of postal and commercial communication
between Germany and Eastern Asia and
Australasia has reached the Treasury Bu-
reau of Statistics. II shows that the Lloyd
company agrees to maintain for space of
fifteen years steamship lines running from
Bremerhaven or Hamburg, Germany, by
way OF Belgian or Dutch port, through
Genoa Naples, Port Said, Suez, Alden, CO.
lombo. Singapore and Hong Kong to Shang
hal China and back by the same route;
a second main line through the same ports
to Yokohama. Japan; also a main line
through the same ports to Adelaide, Mel
bourne and Sidney. Australia: also branch
lines from Hong Kong to Shanghai and
from Singapore to German New Guinea and
other ports in Oceanica.
Four steamers are, under this contract,
TO be built for the Chinese and Japanese
service, 10 be OF not less than 5000 tons
Tn nf IN
every respect. their plans to be approved
by the admiralty and to be running re-
pectively by October /. 1899, January j,
September l and November /, 1900. The
steamers 10 be constructed for the Aus
tralian line are 10 be not less Than $500
tons, and also equal TO those of foreign
nations in every respect and subject to the
approval OF the admiralty.
All the ships are to be built in German
yards and German material is to be used
as far as possible. all admiralty require
ments to be carried out in them. putting
them into condition in which they can
readily be utilized for war purposes when
necessary. The agreement provides that
in cases OF mobilizing the fleet the chan
cellor can purchase the vessels on full
payment of their value. or can hire them.
The terms of theacontract also provide that
only German coal is to be taken on board
at German, Belgian or Dutch ports of call,
except by the special assent of the i'm
perial chancellor; that in cases of German
and foreign goods being simultaneously
offered for dispatch the German goods are.
If necessary. to have the preference and
that the chancellor may prohibit the i'm
portation by German, Belgian or Dutch
ports of such agricultural products as may
compete with those of German agriculture.
The agreement provides that the Ger
man government shall pay TO the LLOYD
Company $3.50, GOO marks per year, paya-
bic monthly. Value of mark 23.S cents.)
This contract extends from April. 1899
for a term OF fifteen years: the regular
plan of sailing on the japanese line must
begin at the latest in April, 1899. II is
also announced that a Bremen firm in
tends to establish with steamers now be-
ing built for that purpose a steamship line
on the Yangtse Kiang in China, to ply
between Canton and Hankow.
By the aid of these lines. which will
connect with the subsidized lines running
from Hamburg to Shanghai German deal
ers and German interests will be in direct
communication not only with Shanghai.
which has twn-thirds of the import trade
OF China. but also with HanlIOw one OF
the most important commercial cities of
China. and having population of about
1000, 600 1t is now being connected with
Pekin by railroad. Hankow is probably
the most important of the distributing
centres of interior China. being splendidly
situated in the very heart of the country,
surrounded by network of rivers and
lakes, and reached by the largest ocean
steamers, and when 10 this Is added the
railway system now under construction its
Importance distributing point for in
terror China is very great
Germany's exports to the Asiatic coun-
tries have increased very rapidly during
the past decade. Her exports TO China
in 1887 amounted to II 900. 900 marks in
value. and in 1896 to 10 .2GG 900. To Japan
the 1887 exports were G.39S 900 marks. and
those Of 1896. 50, GIL ono t. British Fast
Indies they We're in 1897 7,230, goo. and in
1886 1919, 600 marks To Dutch East
Indies and the Philippines they were in
1897 5.si9OOO. and in 1896 leg42. 600. To
Australia they We're in 1897 7.47O. 600: in
1896 29.247 900 marks
The following table shows the total val
lie of German exports to Asia and Ocean
lea by years from 1887 to 1896: