New-York tribune., 1905-08-31
JAPANESE COMMERCE.
Significant Increase in Spite of Var
Handicap.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington. Aug. sO-what may be expected o.
Japans commercial development with the restora-
ton OF peace is indicated by the remarkable growth
of the nations foreign trade. and especially with
the United States. in the first six months OF
this year. shown in the June monthly return
OF the foreign trade Of the Empire OF Japan a copy
OF which official publication has Just reached the
Department of Commerce and Labor. 1t says:
AS compared with the six months figures for the
previous year the imports show the relarAaole "a "a @
Increase OF $50 per cent from $50 5 900 TO s4 C
while exports for the same period show relative
y insignificant growth OF less than per cent Iron
sos. .45S.00O TO S71.0SSOo0.
increases in imports are credited TO the Unlted
States the United Kingdom and British India, tns s
China, United States and Corea Thus imports
the year 1905 were 81 900 as against $3. ooO
during the same period Of 1904; imports rom a S1e
O0O imports from British India were $S4,034000 as
against 81 O9z GI9 while imports from GeTIany 6
this year. against $S,sS5G0 for the same period
countries. they have Increased at a much lower
rate or else show decreases
fer China, which is credited with ST. $4,000, as
compared s14s5SooO during the first six months Of
countries to which japanese products are des{lned
s 600 as against S1ssloO for the previous year
In the third place now stands Corea, with $500
The exports to the other countries relatively
small. and, moreover. show decreases linus, ex X
silk have fallen from sl.17Ooo during the frst six
months OF 1904 S04Ol,UvU during the urSI
months 1905. The exports to the United tinguoIn
have likewise decreased from S4.3SOoo to S. Ss 0Oo
while exports TO Germany have fallen from SusS.Vo
In 1904 to s.. .o45,O0O in 1Soo
The leading position of the United States IN
Japanese foreign commerce Is seen from the 1act
that this country furnished pa per cent or the
total imports during the first six months OF 1895, as
compared with 14.7 per cent OF the total imports
during the period of 1894, and is credited with
28 6 per cent of the total domestic exports during
the first half year in 1905, as compared with 2S1
per of the total domestic exports OF Japan 1or
the frsr six months In 1904
The eaiss in imports affect not only such articles
increased consumption Of which was TO be expected
hacause OF the war. such as flour. beans and peas,
wooIens and Worsteds, cotton manufactures. blank
ets sole leather etc. but other articles well in
sed importations of which the best sign OF
Industrial growth and expansion Among the lat
fer rhe most notable increases shown by raw
cotton the imports of which have almost doubled
in value by manufactures OF iron and steel. ma
The onIy articles OF Importance the imports OF
which show decreases during the first six months
~ fa15 as compared with the same period in 1904.
are coal sugar and kerosene oil. The decrease in
the Importation OF sugar is most striking, and IS
nr0bablv due chiefly the higher import duties on
sugar imposed last year the results OF which are
seen in extraordinarily heavy tnportations during
the year 1904
be raw cotton about one-third OF which Is credited
10 the United States. and rice. the mportatOus OF
which assumed large proportions for the first time
in 1903 and continue to lead all other items with
the exception OF cotton. About IS per cent OF
the total imports OF 42 6S9 O0 during first half
OF the present year represented by the imports Of
the two items just named