New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
cHryA,s FOREIGN COMMERCE.
THE EMPIRE SHOWN TO BE GROWING
RICHER EVERY YEAR.

washington ian 1s CSpeciaD-The latest official
report on the foreign commerce OF China, showing
imports and exports by countries and articles ana
the growth OF commerce during term OF years
vxhic, has been received by the Treasury Bureau
of Statistics presents much information especially
interesting TO the public II shows that the i'm
ports into China, which in 1858 were e4s4S,eo Hal
kwan taels in 1875 coo and in 1883 i26OO taels
were in 1855 2os.57s.OOO Haikwan taels; while the
exports from China. which in 1865 were 6l'S2ooo
HaikRan taels IN 1878 900 and in 1sSS s24OooO,
were in 1855 159oST.0oo Haikwan taels The imports
from the United States which in 1868 were f42oO
Haikwan taels, had grown 70 225SoO In lsfs SlfOvn
in 1855 llss 80 1885, while the exports to the
United States. which IN 1865 were 5.ssloo Haikwan
taels were In 1873 6576O0o in 1Sss Sse3.oo0 and in
1895 1881 900 Haikwan taels
Discussing the foreign trade OF China, the report
says:
So much foreign capital has been lately invested
IN China that the condition OF the external trade
81 Sources rne IS Mached With certain anxiety 1t is
observed that IN every year the yaue and ID oT the
period 1856 rs the of imports over exports is
about ssoe0oo0 taels These figures have given rise in
some quarters to the strange bellet that nina -
h connrY is y approaching bsnkruptcy II is point
"a out that China has not only to pay for her i'm
ports but has also to find funds to meet remit
purchase of war material and for the support of
legations etc dePrsssns tn destroy
Credit and prevents many people from investing , IN
80 far as can be ascertained the position is
II must be expIained that the figures of imports
and exports represent the value of goods on the
imports the value after they have paid duty to the
Government and profit to the Chinese buyer; and
before they have been sold the foreign buyer and
the value of imports at the moment of landing. and
the value of the exports at the moment OF ship
stT1,ck 's Show instead of sn excess of imports
amounting to 5o592 600 Haikwan taels : an S excess cess
account the value Of gold exported gold in Gnins 9 m
Haikwan taels and the value OF the tea sent to
Siberia and Russia, via the Han River. valued at
PSrs 9en po ona uS o G M afhs akWa1
Further. it must be remembered that the figures
DO represent the whole Of Chinas foreign trade
Whes We haTe no statistcs but Which Is certainly
profitable, and considerable trade with Mongolia
and Thibet. The large income derived from the
expenditure OF foreign vessels for provisions and and
s enner iS @ -nfted % or brought back bY emil
grants probably reach total which would be sur
Apparently upon good authority. that the remit,
100000 of gold dollars annually In the absence
OF definite information the above considerations
fhst the the nation is Wei able to pay its way; but
the proof is to be found in the fact that the Gov.
loans. amounting during 1888 TO nearly $1,000 600
medium CT bills OF exchange against exports So
far from silver being exported abroad there
faeis and Information all parts of the country
points 10 no scarcity OF silver while the general
course OF silver prices indicates that metal is
plentiful It may be confidently asserted that China
meets the whoie of her obligations without any
depletion Of her currency, and that the Chinese
no imports except such as can be obtained in ex
change fer exports. No doubt the Government is
hard pressed for funds, but the country grows
wealthier every year.
The following table taken from the official
ports OF the Chinese Government shows the total
IMPORTS into China and the from the United
States at decennial periods since 1868, stated in
Hnikwan taels the value of the tael being in 1868
e. in 1878 81 81. In 1853 81 Is and in 1898 60 cents