The Washington herald., 1908-08-19
Special Efforts Made to Cap
ture Trade in Orient.
LAYS A SURE FOUNDATION
Brussels Government VIII PartfcI-
pate in Tokyo Exposition of 1872
of Commercial InfOrmatiOn-Buys
Several New COnsuIates.


special efforts TO advance its commercial
interests in the far East In recent years
Belgium has displayed decided energy for
the expansion Of her trade with China
and Japan. and the relatively conspicuous
position she now holds among the Eu-
.ropean nations whose rivalry for CONNER
cial supremacy IN that quarter Of the
globe Is OF the keenest shows that her
efforts have not been exerted IN vain
The Belgian government intends to par
ticipafe in the International Exposition
al Tokyo in 1872. and will. 1t Is asserted,
use every endeavor 70 make Belgium
exhibit one OF special prominence
The government has also decided to
install its diplomatic and consular repre-
sentatives in the Orient in more imPos-
ing quarters A splendid new building
for the Belgian Legation at Pekin is
now nearing completion. ground has been
broken for an imposing consulate gen
eral. while at Toxic a similar building
is to be erected At Seoul. the Korean
capital. a new residence has lately been
built for Belgium's diplomatic representa-
tive.
These undertakings on the part Of the
Belgian government necessitate consid-
cradle Increase in the annual budget but
/ such expenditures are looked upon by the
I business element Of the kingdom as an
excellent investment for the nation
Belgium Is Active In China.
Il is only since 1885 that Belgium has
made serious efforts 10 enter the field OF
commercial activity in China During that
. T1-F~ -Fs-Fe a. pal-F~
/ ned his government Of the possibility
Of q Belgian firm being awarded the con
/ tract for building the Pekin-Hankow Rail
way line The Belgian minister OF foreign
affairs Immediately called together a
1 group Of fnanciers and manufacturers OF
railway material 10 look into the cues
I ton. This meeting resulted in the organi-
I zation Of the Societe d d'Etudes de CheDin
de Fer en- Chine. that At once took the
matter in hand
/ Important orders were given TO Belgian
firms for railway rolling stock and other
material. and this proved 20 De Bel
/ gums initial move in the expansion OF
her trade with the far East Prior 70
1s15 the effort made by Belgians 70 foster
| closer commercial relations with China
being largely confined 10 the action of
single individuals or firms acting inde-
pendentIy. were not productive Of results
in keeping with the immense possibilities
offered BY the Chinese market. and al the
same time were far from doing justice 70
I Belgian commercial and industrial &C
t!vity-
\ The subsequent agitation in the COM
mercial world, brought about by q full
realization Of these conditions. led event
ually to the organization in Brussels OF
p the Chino Beige Chamber OF Commerce
an Institution having FOR its object pri-
marily. the grouping together OF all inter
ested industries and assisting IN every
possible manner II developing and foster
ing their relations with the Orient
what Belgium Is Doing
Supplying manufacturers and CONNER
ciaI bodies with information relative L
the important markets OF the Celest.a
empire pointing out the kind Of good.
likely 10 meet with favor. and the price.
FOR which goods could be readily sold
emphasizing the numerous opportunities
for developing Oriental trade. encouraging
; a spirit OF initiative on the part Of Belgian
Industrial interests in taking advantage
Of these opportunities. supplying the Chi
nese merchants with Information tha
would facilitate the expectation OF theii
products into Belgium. and the purchss
ing in that country OF goods that cou-t
find a ready sale IN China. are among th'
leading aims Of this Chilese-BelgiaI
| chamber Of commerce. fOstered through
the intermediary Of its Official organ. en-
titled Chine ct Beige" This review
published monthly. contains much Usefu
b information. and is expected TO PrePar'
: the way for a vast army Of Belgian
manufacturers and merchants TO form
new trade relations Its policy VIII be Z
--1rrfH lnr-a10-a
u,ent Of closer commercial relations witt
China. and 70 this end It viii eneCgetical
" advocate the creation Of an effective
merchant marine. without which It
claimed all profitable expansion Of trad
beyond the seas is but visionary dream
not In harmony with the views OF any O
the serious and intelligent business mel
Of the country
Also After japanese Trade.
Another association. founded on simila
; lines. for fostering trade relations witt
Japan Is the SOciete d-E,udes Belgo
z IJaponaise. The special pains taken b.
japan at the Liege Exposition in 1915 =
{ make her section prominent is considere'
as indicating strong desire to enter int
more intimate commercial relations witt
? Belgium
The society has sent a Representative
to Japan. As a basis for his investiga
tons. the society asks its members to in
! dicate the special subjects in which the.
l. may be individually interested. so that
T. complete set Of interrogatories may b
submitted such as viii be os value Il
furthering the interests Of Increase
trade with Japan It is said that the in
- formation embodied in the replies [
- these INQUIRIES will doubtless clearly il
. lustrate a fact perhaps already too We
known in some quarters. that Belgla
products are now extensively sold in ia
=, pan, but that in most cases such sale
: are made by other than Belgian house:
. and that an extremely small percenJag
i of such products find their way into ia
= pan by means Of direct importation frOE
b Belgium That the japanese are favor
- ably disposed toward the products OF hi
= country can hardly be doubted, in vie'
OF the increasing number Of orders fC
such products by japanese merchants
Scientific Economic Activities
During the preliminary period OF r
search and study the Office Of the secrs
tary general Of the association propose
issuing a monthly bulletin. published
the interests Of Belgian exporters. ent
tied Japan et Belgique-" This publics
ton will be directed on similar lines
Chine ct Belgique. the Official organ {
the Belgian chamber Of con
merce. It may be added that the al
vertising department OF this publicatio
. is to receive special attention The az
vertisemerts alone. translated into En-
Hsh and japanese, make up an attracti1
volume. and a large number OF copit
have beer, sent to the socfetv's raDresey