The evening times., 1900-03-23
AMERICAN TRADE ABROAD.
Arguments Presented by "a French
Official JOurnaI.

Official JournaI.
Commerce and Commercial Prospects in
the Philippines" is the subject OF dis
cusson in the "Moniteur Officiel du Com
merce," an official publication of the
French Government which has just reached
the Treasury Bureau of Statistics. II
calls the 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 foothoId which it has OBJ
tanned at Manila. The statement is as fol-
lows:
'The export houses of Manila are about
resuming their business activity and re-
spending to the demands for sugar, abaca,
copra. tobacco. etc, which they had been
unable to satfsfy during the whole OF the
past year.
The import trade underwent important
changes by reason of the occupation of the
Philippines by the United States, this
change by no means yet being complete.
Before acting the business men of the colo
ny had to studys5he new conditions under
which henceforward the importation of for
eign manufactures might be carried on.
The Philippine market received prior to the
Spanish American war, all sorts OF articles
coming from England. Spain, France. Bel
GUM, etc. The United States whose ex-
ports 90 these islands had been relatively
Of very Insignificant Importance have since
taken an important place in the victualing
OF fianila which place is daily growing in
inn s,f III cft
after few months of observation. became
convinced that in order to hold their own
against the American competitor, they
would have TO repIenish part of their stock
OF trade with American goods, so that now
one can see in all the stores OF Manila be-
side the foreign goods formerly imported,
also a number OF articles which the Amer
lean manufacturers try to introduce In
large quantities.
The competition on the part OF Ameri-
can products is bound to become more and
more formidable the more Americans will
become settled in this colony. and even
now old Manila business houses send Or
ders to American manufacturers, who have
acquainted them with their terms Of doing
business. and have ever since August 1898,
either through detailed catalogues or more
often through active and intelligent
agents.
1T is quite difficult to state beforehand
a the present time which foreign prod
ucts Will win the favor of the public in Ma
Mia and the provinces of the archipelago,
for the American part OF the population is
at present made up principally OF soldiers
and officers families; the rest of the
American colony in this city is quite small.
though constantly growing in number
mainly through civilians who visit the
country and study the chances for its eX-
ploitation. The great capitalists. manufac-
turers, and business men of the Union.
however. have not yet made their appear
ance on the ground. neither are they likely
TO as long as tranquility is not restored in
an parts CT these islands. constant
study of the Philippine situation and of
the changes in the commercial condition of
the local market would therefore seem to
be indispensable to all foreign manufaCtu-
rerS and business men that wish to in
crease the volume OF their business or
open connections with Manila merchants
Great tact and skill have to be employed
by French commerce. particularly in order
TO hold its own against encroachmeuts on
the part OF foreign competitors, who show
extraordinary activity in winning new
markets on the Philippines, calm and per
severing in the case of the Germans. Eng
lish, and BelgiaBs noisy and almost bru-
tai in the case OF the Americans. Prompt
ness and despatch in the execution of or
deTs and careful packing are recommended
to the French exporter. During the year
complaints about careless packing. result
ing in damage to the goods have been of
such frequents occurrence that they may
prove even hurtfui 10 the importatin of our
goods. The merchants OF Manila are led
to compare methods and to acknowledge
that all goods shipped from the United
States are packed with such care that dam
age TO, and deterioration Of the goods due
to bad packing are exceedingly rare"
THE REMODELED ATLANTA.