The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-16
BR|TAIN'S
FOREIGN
TRADE
Board Of Trade Issues Blue
Book Containing a Mass Of
Figures Relating to Il.

London. Sept. ls-The heels of
Premier Bakour's academic exposition
OF his personal views Of the fiscal prob
lem, contained in the pamphlet on in
suiar free trade" advance sheets OF
which were issued last night. came the
long promised and much demanded gov
! ernment statistics dealing with that s,rb-
ject.
They were seued this morning by the
board of trade in the shape or blue
book OF nearly 500 pages OF bewildering
tables OF figures showing the various as
poets OF British and foreign trade and
the Industrial conditions. No deductions
were drawn though the publication deals
with interesting notes upon what are re-
garded as points of fact.
The reference TO foreign trade was
chiefly confined TO France, Germany and
the United States.
The Pail Mall Gazette says IL under
stands the cabinet has concluded the con-
sfderation of its fiscal position and its
policy IN regard thereto, that no further
cabinet meetings will be held for the
present. probably not until late In the
autumn, and that in the meanwhile Colo
NAL Secretary Chamberlain will proceed
with his exposdtory program. The paper
adds
1T will probably be found that he has
modified his proposals so as to bring them
in harmony with Mr.. Baifour's Views as
set forth in the pamphlet The main fea-
ture Of Mr.. Chamberlain's modification
will be the disappearance of all susges-
tions in the direction OF further taxation
OF foodstuffs and raw materials. Con-
sideration Of the war commissions re-
port Is reserved for future meetings OF
the cabinet"
The newspaper believes IL is still possi-
BILE that there will be more than one re-
signation from the cabinet.
One OF the most important phases dealt
with in the blue book are Imports and ex-
ports The tables show that exports
from the United Kingdom to the United
States declined from sl4S, 900. 900 in 1880 10
seT SOC. 900 In 1892. while the imports rose
from Sass, 10000 TO $685.. .eo0, 600 The total
exports TO all foreign countries declined
in the same period $50 900, though the
colonies are included the decline amounts
to only t5.0000o0.
The proportion OF the United Kingdom
exports, as between protected and unpro-
tected countries, in the markets OF the
world has been reversed since 1850. Then
IL was Sc per cent 10 the protected coun-
tries and A per cent TO the others. IN
1902 the proportion was ~ per cent 70 the
A valuable explanation is given OF the
much quoted excess OF imports over ex-
ports which has so often been held 10 be
a sign OF British trade decline. The blue
book says that while the excess yearly
averages about $500 oo0.0 900 the income re-
ceivable from foreign investments. cal
culated at ss12,5oo,0o0 added TO the earn
inss of the British merchant feet engaged
In foreign trade. calculated at S5O,ooo.coO''
is probably more than sufficient TO ac-
count for the average excess OF Imports.
Such estimates have never before been
included hence the misleading character
OF the usual figures.
Americans have made large investments
I'm the United Kingdom of recent years
and American re-purchases or railroad
and other securities are admitted 10 have
10 some extera affected the fiscal figures
but they are not likely to form serious
factor"
Much attention is devoted 70 tin plate
Industry and the effect OF the Dingley
and Mckinley tariffs. The figures show
that the total exports OF tin from the
United Kingdom have declined only a 1T
tie over 5000 600 since 1897 with a marked
increase In the quantity produced and IN
the value OF a number OF mills since 1898.
Dealing exhaustively with the tariffs
OF all nations the blue books says the
American syetem Of drawbacks "neces-
sarily results I'm inequality OF treatment
and may yield an export bounty TO the
best equipped manufacturers, while
others sustain a loss"
In n table showing the ad-vslorem.
equivalent TO import duties. levied by
foreign countries on the principal articles
OF British export. Russia comes first with
70 per cent and Austria follows with
s5 per cent. Though Germany comes
sixth Il IL pointed out that her existing
tarif Is so effective as 10 be more highly
protective against Great Britain than the
percentage shows.