New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-24
TRADE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
A FRENCH VIEW OF THE PROSPECTS AND
OF AMERICAN COMPETITION

OF AMERICAN COMPETITION.
Washington March % (SpeciaD.-"Commerce and
Commercial Prospects in the Philippines" Is the
subject of discussion In the "Monteur Officel du
Commerce.. official publication Of the French
Government, which has Just reached the Treasury
Bureau Of Statistics. 1t calls attention of those
interested in the foreign commerce of France to
the fact that American commerce in the Orient is
making rapid developments. and especially so
through the foothold which It has obtained at
Manila The statement is as follows:
., The export houses Of Manila are about resumpg
mands for & aPaea c9pTa to6aGg0 ETC. to- whiGh
The import trade underwent. important changes
The United this change By no yet
under WHICH henceforward the Importation Of for
Pine %arksf reesvsd pTor to the sPani5R, Ams4}-
Spain, France, Belgium, etc The United States
whose exports to these islands had been relatively
ar paea in Sa Of Mana
which place is daily lilly growing In The
observation. became convinced that in order to hold
would have 10 repenish part of their stock Of
ad With b s6Ea d ba that NE Nrsa
goods formerly imported also number of articles
duce in large quantities
AMERICAN COMPETITION FEARED
The competition the part of American products
is bound to become more formidable the more
Americans will become settled in this colony and
even now old Manila business houses send orders
to American manufacturers. who have acquainted
since August 1893 either through detailed cata-
logues more often Though active and intelligent
agents.
1t is quite difficult state beforehand at the
present time which foreign products will win the
favor of the public in Manila and the provinces
population Is at present made up principally OF
soldiers and officers families the of the Amer
lean colony in this city is quite small, though
stantly growing in number mainly civilians who
visit the country and study the chances of it's
ploitation. The great capitalists manufact urers
yet made their appearance the ground; neither
are they likely to as long as tranquility is e.
stored in all parts OF these islands. A constant
study OF the Philippine situation and OF the changes
in the commercial condition of the local market
would therefore seem to be Indispensable all for
increase the volume of their business open con-
nections with Manila merchants. Great tact and
skill need to be employed by French commerce.
particularly in order to hold Its own against en-
croachments on the part OF foreign competitors
who show extraordinary activity in winning new
markets in the Philippines, calm and persevering
in the case OF the Germans, English and Belgians
noisy and almost brutal in the case of the Ameri-
cans Promptness and dispatch in the execution of
orders and careful packing are recommended O the
French exporter. During the year complaints
about careless packing, resulting In damage to the
goods. have been of such frequent occurrence that
they may prove hurtful to the importation of
compare methods and to acknowledge that all goods
shipped from the United States are packed with
such care that damage to and deterioration of the
goods due to bad packing are exceedingly rare