The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-11
TRADE WITH CHINA.
Thomas Mason Sinclair Comes to St.
Paul to See j. j. Hill.

raul TO see ~. Hill.
Thomas Mason Sinclair; of Montreal,
who is in the cities this week. believes it
possible to build .upua trade with China
of magnificent proportions. He has re-
Gently returned from Shanghai, China,
where he is interested in banking insti-
tuition. 1t Is understood that Mr. Sim
clair's mission tn the cities is to promote
the establishmentsofna bank under Amer
lean auspices in Shanghai, the need of
which is declared to be pressing While
refusing to state the object of his mis-
sion, Mr.. Sinclairg stated that his visit to
the cities is for the purpose of comforting
with President III. Hill, of the Great
Northern, who is known to be vitality i'll
terested in Asiatfc commerce Mr.. SIN
clair is a New Yorker and visited Presi-
dent Shaughnessy. of the Canadian Pa
cific, in Montreal, before coming to St.
Paul:
II We could shake off the remnants Of
our She'll, said Mr.. Sinclair. I'VE might
De able TO takes advantage of the sltua-
tlon IN China and build up a trade there
OF enormous proportions; but this country
Is IN a good deal the same position as the
lobster mat mas ltseif hampered in put
ing on IT'S new coat by adhesive frag-
mentS OF the old one 1t is pity the
antl-eXpaBSionist element in this country
cannot realize the destiny of America in
the rar cast and put its shoulder to the
Z.
II IS 1nconceivable to me- especially in
view OF the advantageous circumstances
III Wnlcn we are placed by our possession
OF the Philippines, that there should be
an element IN this country anxious to wit
ness our Withdrawal from the stupendous
possibilities of trade with the Orient Ma
t1ons Will be enriched through their trade
with emma alone, and it is a fact that
most or the nations engaged in Chinese
trade have now very long start over us.
w, What gives us the best OF them is that,
oy virtue OF our. Philippine conquest, we
are IN possession of the key to China.
Inc Island OF Luzon will become gigan-
nc slorehouse of American manufactures
tor Ell G;hinese trade, and we shall be able
70 I'LL orders there while England and
Germany are thinking of it.
| Il Is very evident to a resident in
emma, however, that American merchants
! do not understand or appreciate the ex-
tent OF their opportunities. German and
Ehgllsh INNS cater to the trade Of the
Chlnese, manufacturing according to their
pIeJualces or preferences, respecting their
| peculiar business ideas and generally en-
deavoring to gain their confidence Thus
| the trade of England is great and grow
ing, while that of Germany is also in
| creaSlng very rapidly.
Our manufacturers apparently make
| no effort at all to familiarize themselves
with the necessities of the Chinese mar
Ket rake terms of payment, for in
land, hrms In China draw at sixty to
ninety days sight, with privilege Of re-
neWal, While most American concerns put
paper through at three or fifteen days
sight, or some such short period, with no
privilege OF renewal. AS the goods take
from one to two months longer than the
mail in arriving, the concern may be
compelled to put It's money out thirty to
| sixty days before the goods arrive. The
advantage to the Chinese by dealing with
Indicated
I suppose the trouble is that we have
SO much trade that at present we do not
need that of the Chinese; but 1t is as well
when. with our immense production here
We shall need that field badly, and now
is the time to create our market there. I
nese market to this countrv could noa-
| sibly be overestimated