Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-04
OUR TRADE in MANCHURIA.
American Exports Equal IS Per Cent.
of All Foreign Imports.

Washington, May 3.-The importance
to the United States of retaining a hold
on Manchurian trade and the guarding
of our interests in that province
against international complications is
pointed out in a report of especial in
terest at this time received at the State
Department today from H. 3. Miller,
United States Consul at Newchwang,
China. Russia will in the end, he says,
practically dominate the commercial
| and industrial affairs of Manchuria
unless other countries have in every
way equal facilities. American trade
in Manchuria today consists largely of
cotton goods, kerosene and four and is
largely in excess of that of any other
| country. 1t is estimated that our eX-
ports to Manchuria will equal 100000
| taels. or 35 per cent. of all foreign i'm
ports.
| AS necessary to maintain this COM
mercial supremacy Consul Miller
makes the following, recommendation:
| Establishment by American
manufacturers of an expert agent in
Manchuria who shall sell direct to ma
| tive firms instead of to Shanghai and
| Hong Kong.
Second-That the Washington Gov
eminent urge the opening of all of
Manchuria to the trade of the world
'as free to us as to Russia or any other
country"
| Third-That new consul-general be
added to the American consular SER
vice. it's head to be known as the
United States consul-general for Man
| churia. .
IF these things are not done" Mr..
Miller continues. lit is very clear to
my mind that the entire mining inter-
| eStS of Manchuria, together with what
ever trade is desired by Russia mer-
chants. Will be entirely in their hands,
| He adds:
| Russian merchants are already strong
in the kerosene trade and are laying
plans to capture the flour and cotton
goods trades. Russia has a commits
sioner of the rank of consul-general IN
Manchuria. having great influence with
the present Chinese officials. Russian
banks are doing business in all the
principal cities. and these banks have
a commercial branch buying and selling
merchandise. Russian subjects are
building flour mills, factories, meat
/
mines throughout Manchuria, while
some of our citizens complain that
they are not permitted the same privi-
legcs. The commercial department of
the Russo Chinese Bank is doing bust
ness in all the interior cities of Man
churia. while our citizens are pro-
| hibited on account of our treaty with
| China and unless this condition is al
tered our trade instead of expanding
as the natural conditions would justify,
will be contracted and driven out by
Russian goods. 1t is the manifest pur-
pose of some Russian manufacturers
| to initiate American-made goods and
| brands.
| Because the Russian oil sold by the
| Russo Chinese bank in the interior
cities of Manchuria has been receiving
special favors of the Chinese Eastern
Railway American kerosene is being
| driven out the importationS for the
last year showing a decrease of $685.
SlS gallons, and an American firm has
been unable to secure sight for build
| ing a warehouse to store American oil
| at Dalny as result of the opposition of
Russian oil dealers.
| Increase in American flour imports is
noted by Mr.. Miller, who says it is
evident that Manchuria, Mongolia and
Siberia are soon to become enormous
| grain-growing districts and offer a
better field in the future for agricul-
tural and flour mill machinery than for
| flour. He says that from consumer Of
our flour Manchuria will soon become
our most strenuous competitor in
Asiatic markets.
Local manufacture of cotton yarns
and cloth has been decreased by the
| tremendous decline in the value of sill
yer. and Mr.. Miller asserts that this
fact is sure to stimulate cotton grow
| ing and cotton production in China to
| such an extent as materially to reduce
American importation. He adds:
This native competition, together
| with the effort being made by alert
Russian business men to capture the
cotton goods trade of Manchuria, es-
pecially in drills and sheetngs, indi-
Gates the Importance of the American
| manufacturers looking more closely
after this trade
Josiah Flynt, whose studies of the "un-
| der-world'' are so well known, has been
devoting attention to the police system of
| London, England. The most striking