Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-12
OUR CHINESE TRADE
Increase From LA to 8,l9 Per Cent
in Thirty Years.
FIGURES IN LATEST OFFICIAL REPORTS
An Apparent Big Balance Against
the Empire.
THE STATISTICS ANALYZED

The latest official report upon the foreign
commerce of China, showing imports and
exports by countries and articles and the
growth of commerce during term of
years. which has been received by the
treasury bureau of statistics, presents
much Information especially interesting to
the public at the present moment.
II shows that the imports into China,
which In 1868 were ia, 943 OOO 1Iaikwan tae1s
in 1878 -, 1SS, 900 taels and in 1888 1851,
600 taels. were in 1898 2o9, SO, 600 Haikwan
taels; while the exports from China, which
in 1865 were 81. $4,000 IIaikwan taels, in
1873 &c IL, 600 and in 1883 o., 4O1 900. We're
in 1898 159, 037 900 Haikwan taels. The i'm
ports from the nited States, which in 1868
We're $4,000 Haikwan taels. had grown TO
>. GOO in 1878. 3,1IG,O0O In 1Sss and 17,163,-
%12 in 1898, while the exports to the United
States which in 1865 were 1891. 900
Haikwan taels. We're in 1878 6,5If.OOO in
1883 S.96;0O0 and in 1898 II ,9S7, 900 Haikwan
taels.
Apparent Big Balance Against China.
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 Of the country, as an index
to the national resources, is watched with
a certain anxiety. 1t is observed that in
every year the value of the imports has ex-
ceeded that of exports, and for the period
1SSG-9S the excess of imports over exports
is Al. OBJ. $40 Haikwan taels, an annual av-
erage of about 34.000.000 taels. These fig
nres have given rise In some quarters to
the strange belief that China is being grad
ually denuded of silver to pay for the bal
ance, and it has even been gravely stated
that the country Is approaching bank
ruptcy. 1t is pointed out that China has
not only to pay for her imports, but has
also to find funds to meet remttances
abroad for the service of loans, for the
purchase Of war material, and for the sup
port of legations. etc.
THE depressing picture thus presented
to the imagination has tendency to de-
stroy credit and prevents many people from
investing in Chinas securities, and it may
he well to show that, as far as can be
aScertained, the position is one that need
cause no anxiety. 1t must be explained
that the figures of imports and exports
represent the value Of goods on the Chi
nese markets: that is TO say. in the case of
imports, the value after they have paid
duty TO the government and a profit to the
Chinese buyer and in the case of exports,
the value on the market before they have
been sold to the foreign buyer and paid cx-
port duty. The figures for 1898. reduced to
the value OF imports at the moment of
landing, and the value of the exports al
the moment of shipment the moment when
balance may be fairly struck, show, in
stead of an excess of imports amounting to
sn.342.e00 Haikwan taels an excess of only
1921 900 taels.
Actually an Excess of Exports.
But we must also take into account the
value of gold exported gold in China being
simply commodity, amounting to 7,703,-
s43 Haikwan taels, and the value of the
tea sent to Siberia ard Russia via the Han
river, valued at ] ,372 ,o99 taels, and thus We
have an excess of exports over imports Of
1914. 1913 Hawaiian taels.
Further. it must be remembered that the
figures which come under the cogniZance
of the customs do not represent the whole
of China 5 foreign trade. There is a junk
traffic to Corea and the south of which we
have no statistics, but which is certainly
profitable, and a considerable trade with
Mongolia and Thibet The large income de-
rived from the expenditure of foreign yes
sells for provisions and other necessaries
must not be forgotten, and the sums which
are RENTED or brought back by emigrants
priSinS were figures available, II having
been stated appar ntly upon good author
1ty that the remittances from California
alone amount to ten or twelve millions of
definite information the above considera-
tons can only be put forward as presump-
tive evidence that the nation is well able
to pay Its way; but the proof is to be found
in the fact that the government remttances
to Europe for the service of loans amount
ing during 1898 to rear.y 100000 taels
are made through foreign banks by the
medium of bills of exchange against ex-
ports.
so far from silver being exported abroad,
there was net import during the year OF
4,i22025 HaikWan taels and informant ton
from all parts of the country points to no
scarcity of silver. while the general course
of Silver prices indicates that the metal is
plentiful 1t may be confidently asserted
that China meets the whole of her obliga-
tons without any depletion OF her currency
and that the Chirese buy no imports ex-
cept such can be obtained in exchange
for exports. No doubt the government is
hard pressed for funds. but the country
grows Weather every year.
Trade with This Country.
The following table, taken from the off,
cial reports of the Chinese government,
shows the total imports into China and the
amount from the United States at decen-
NAL periods since 1865 stated in HaikWan
taels, the value of the tael being in 1868
sl.55, in 1878 s1.37, in 1888 $1.15, and in 1893
80 cents:
Imports. United States cent
1893. ............ 64,043 900 10000 LA
100 I.Zoo.un StS
1883. ............ l26. s27 900 3.14800O 2.4s
1898. ............ 2G9,579UOO 17.163,0oO $40
Cnnlifjnns in AlosLn Ia~crihnsJ