Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-26
EUROPEAN TRADE ALLIANCE
FORMER ATTEMPTS TO CRIPPLE OUR
EXPORTS.
Recent Talk Seems Unlikely d
Cause Amy Serious
Anxiety.

The talk Of an International alliance
against the United States, with the pur-
pose OF REFRESHING her export trade. seems
unlikely to cause serious anxiety IL con-
sidered In the light OF recent commercial
history.
Frequent announcements have been made
during the past few years of combinations
or legislation against the United States
with reference to our export trade. A few
years ago American meats were the sub
ject of legislation in several of the Euro
pean countries, with the apparent pur-
pose Of discriminating either against GER
tain classes of our products of aiding
certain classes of producers in the coun-
tries in which the legislation was had. A
little later came similar action with refer
ence to American fruits Still later further
legislation with reference to various grades
of meat was had. and this was followed by
Increase OF duties in certain European
countries against the classes of bread
stufs of which the United States is a large
producer and exporter. Our dairy products
have also been the subject of more or less
attention from Europeans. who had looked
askance at oleomargariue butter and filled
cheese.
The sugar legislation and laws of the
United States have furnished a basis for
certain restrictive regulations with refer
ence TO certain products of our manufac-
tories, and the war with Spain was looked
upon by many likely to practically de-
stroy the commerce between that country
and the United States.
Exports Nevertheless Increased.
What has been the result OF all this COM
mercial friction. commercial hostility and
OF those national and International COM
olnations against American commerce? To
answer in word. steady increase of
American exports to the countries in ques-
inn oyoh IN,
lean imports from those countries
Take the case Of Germany, for instance
where restrictive legislation or regulation
with reference to certain American prod
ucts mas been frequently agtated and in
some cases actually applied. The figures
oL the treasury bureau of statistics show
that our exports to Germany have in
creased from 5000, 900 in 1893 to SlS7 900
OOO In 1900, while the figures for the eight
months ending with February. 1901. show
exports TO Germany valued at S134 600 900
against S124 100000 In the CORRESPONDING
months of last year and 1000 900 I'm
the same months of the fiscal year 1899
.heantIfne imports into the United States
from germany have fallen from Sill 900 900
IN 1897 to SSI .O00, 900 in 1900 though for the
lscal year 1901 they will probably be slight
ly in excess of 1900
In France certain American productfoas
especially those of agricultural origin have
Deen the subject of more or less restrictive
legislation or regulation; yet our exports
10 FRANCE, winch in 1893 We're $4,000 900
were In 1900 $4,000. 900. and in the eight
months ending with February 1901 are
So6,oto,oVO. against $43.G00.00o in the CORE
spending months of 1899 Meantime our
imports from France have not materially
changed, the imports of 1898 having been
sib.oeo,ooO and those of 1900 s73 $50 apo
While for the eight months ending with
FEBRUARY 1901, they show an increase of
little less than 100000 over the CORE
spending months of last year.
10 Spain our export trade, instead of be-
ing destroyed or materially reduced has
increased and the exports during the pres
emit fiscal year seem likely to be greater
than in any other year, with possibly
single exception. In history. having
been for the eight months ending with
February. 1901. slo.3I5, $50. against s.. JG5 21l
In the corresponding months of 1900, ana
&c. OBS in the same months Of the fiscal
year 1899. Even in the fiscal year 1900 the
total exports to Spain from the United
States We're larger than in any earlier year
since 1891.
Even in the case of Russia. whose recent
action with reference to certain American
products has been already announced the
effect is up to this time scarcely apparent
Our exports to Russia during March Of the
present year, the first full month following
the announcement of the discriminating
rates against the United States, were
81. 1879. 6S3. against 81, 246. 621 during March
of last year.