The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-23
AMERICAN TRADE ABROAD.
Arguments Presented ny French
Official .JOurnas.

Official Journal.
Commerce and Commercial Prospects in
the Philippines" is the subject of a dis
cussion in the "Moniteur OmeieI du Com
merce,' an ofhcial 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 foothold which it has OBJ
tanned at Manila. The statement is as fol-
lows:
The export houses OF Manila are about
resuming thelr business activity and re-
spending to the demands for sugar. abaca.
copra. tobacco. etc, which they had been
unable to satisfy 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 meansy being complete.
Before acting the business men Of the colo
ny had to study the 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 ardcles
coming from England Spain, France Bel
GUM. etc The United States whose eX-
ports 20 these islands had been re atively
Of very Insignificant Importance hav, since
taken an important place in the yictualing
OF ianila. which place is daily growing in
Importance. The business men of this city.
after few mCrths Of obserya ton. became
convinced that in order 10 hold their Own
against the American competitor they
would have to replenish 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 number OF articles which the Amer
ican manufacturers try to introduce an
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 OF more
] often through active and Intelligent
agents.
1T is quite difficult to state beforehand
( At the present time which foreign pod
{ ucts viii win the favor o, the public in Ma
I Mia and the provinces Of the archipelago
. for the American part CT the population is
I az present made up principally Of soldiers
I and officers families; the rest OF the
Z American colony in this city is quite small
| though constantly growing in number
/ mainly through civilirus who visit the
/ country and study the chances for its cx
/ pl0ttation. The great capitalists. manufac
! turers, and bueiness men of ,he Union
| however. have not yet made their appear
/ ence on the ground. neither are they Hkelr
I 10 as long as tranquility is not restored il
/ an parts CT these islands. 4 constan
! study Of the Philippine situation and o
/ the change in the commercial condition O
! the local market would therefore seem G,
/ be indispensable 10 all foreign manufactu
! TerS and business men that wish to in
/ crease the volume OF their business o
! open connections with Manila merchants
Great tact and skill have to be employe,
] by French commerce. particularly in Orde
I 10 hold its own against encroachmeuts OF
| the part Of foreign competitors. who shoy
/ extraordinary activity in winning new
/ markets on the Philippines. calm aud per
| severing in the case Of the Germans. Eng
I hsh, and BelgiaBs. noisy and almost bru
: tai in the case Cf the Americans. Prompt
/ ness and despatch in the execution Of or
I deIs and careful packing are recommends,
/ 10 the French exporter During the YEA
I complaints about careless packing. result
ing In damage TO the goods. have been o
/ such freQuents occurrence that they ma
prove even hurtfui 10 the importstIn Of on
goods The merchants OF Manila are Ie,
10 compare methods and TO aekuoW Iedg
that all goods shipped from the Unite
States are packed with such care that dam
age TO. and deterioration OF. the goods du
70 bad packing are eXceedinglE Iare.-