The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-17
CH|NES FOREIGN TRADE.
FIGURES SEEM INCONSISTENT, BUT
BALANCE Is IN HER FAVOR.
Statistics at Hand Involved and Not
Complete, But Government In Pay
ing Its Way and silver Not De.
pIeted-Foreign Commerce. Grows.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligences.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16-The latest Of
fetal report upon the foreign commerce OF
China, showing imports and exports. by
countries and articles and the growth OF
commerce during a 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. 1t shows that the I'M
ports into China, which in 1858 were a.
943C00 Haikwan tae.s; In 1878, Il, So00.
and in 1888. 126 ,S27 600 taels. were In 1888
209 $4,000 Haikwan taels. while the exports
from China which. In 1865. were 6l,S26.00O
Haikwan taels; in 1873, 67,172.000, and In
1885, 49, 401 .000 we're. in 1885, l59 0S7, 900 Haik-
wan taels.
The imports from the United States
which, in 1858, were $4,000 Haikwan taels.
had grown to 2253,000 in 1875 3,146.0Oo IN
1883, and II, 1882 in 1898. while the exports
to the United States which, in 1868. were
1891. 900 Haikwan taels. were in 1878 6,516,-
COO; in 1883, ss36,000. and In 1898. 1i,9N.00o
Haikwan taels.
Discussing the foreign trade OF China,
the report says: so much foreign cap
itai 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 certain anx-
tety. 1t is observed that in every year
the value of the imports has exceeded
that Of exports, and for the period Of 1856
IS the excess of imports over exports Is
437,027,679 Haikwan taels, an annual av-
erage of about 100000 taels. These fg-
ures have given rise in some quarters to
the strange belief that China Is being
gradually denuded OF silver to pay for the
balance, and II has even been gravely
stated that the country is approaching
has not only to pay for her imports but
has also to find funds to meet remit
tances abroad for the service of loans, for
the purchase of war material, and for the
support of legations, etc. The depressing
picture thus presented to the imagfna-
ton has a tendency to destroy credit and
China securities, and it may be well to
show that as far as can be ascertained
the position Is one that need cause no
anxiety
Figures Only Apparent.
1t must be explained that the figures. of
imports and exports represent the value
of goods on the Chinese market; that Is
to say, in the case of imports, the value
ment and 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 export
duty. The figures for 1898, reduced to
the value of imports at the moment OF
landing and the value ysiu Of the exports s a.
when balance. may be fairly struck.
show, instead of an excess OF imports
aRseas q ony taes sns
must also take into account the value
OF gold exported tgoid in China being
s4s Haifwan taeis, ana the value OF the
tea sent to Siberia and Russia via the
Han river, valued at 1,S72. $50 taels. and
imports OF i,754,7ss Haikwan taels. Fur
ther 1t must be remembered that the
figures which come under the cognizanre
of China's foreign trade. There is fur
traffic to Korea and the south of which
We have no statistics. but which Is GER
tainly profitable and a considerable trade
with Mongona and Thibet. The large in
come derived from the. expenditure. OF
foreign vessels for provisions and other
neeessaries must not be forgotten. anu
the sums which are RENTED or brought
back by emigrants probably reach To-
tai which would pc surpr, isl wsss iig-
inittances from California alone amount
to 100000 or 100000 of gold dollars
annually.
Able to Pay Its Way.
In the absence of definite information,
the above considerations can only be put
forward as presumpttve evidence that the
nation y w IS 10 able ss found to Pay is s ass
the government remfttances to Europe for
the service of loans amounting during
1898 to nearly 1s,000.000 taels, are made
through foreign banks by the medium OF
bills of exchange against exports. So far
from silver being exported abroad. there
OBS Haikwan taels and Information from
all ports of the country points to no scar
city of silver, while the general course OF
plentiful 1t may be confidently asserted
that China meets the whole of her obi
cations without any depletion OF her cur
rency, and that the Chinese buy no inn
ports except such as can be obtained
In exchange for exports. No doubt the
government Is hard pressed for funds. but
the country grows Weather every year.
The following table, taken from the Of
fetal reports Of the Chinese government,
shows the total imports into China and
the amount from the United States at de-
cennial periods since 1868. stated in Haik-
wan taels, the value of the taei being in
1868 $1.55, in 1878 sl.37. In 1885 $1.15. and in
1888 So cents:
Imports Into China.