Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-31
ORIENTAL TRADE

CURIOUS inequality exists in the
IN trade conditions between the
~ United States, the United King
dom and Japan. While the United
States takes 80 per cent of all of ia
pans exports, and pays more money to
Japan than does any other country,
exports to Japan from the United
States are much less than from the
United Kingdom. In five years Amer
lean exports have decreased from II to
16 per cent of Japan's imports.
In 1907 Japan imported from the
| United Kingdom % per cent of her to-
tai imports, although that country took
only one-sixth as much in value of
Japanese exports as did the United
States. In some lines America is fall
ing behind at such a rate that it looks
IS if We might eventually be cut out
altogether. This is of most momen-
tous Importance to Los Angeles and
the Pacific coast. What is the reason
70 an evident Japanese discrimination
against American products? Was not
Theodore Roosevelt's advice to the Pa
ciflc coast with regarL to Japan
marked by craftsmanship, sagacity,
and also by good business sense?
During the past few years, in fact
ever since the Japanese began first to
complain of the tone and attitude of
some of our newspapers, there has
been a steady decline in our Oriental
| trade relations at a time in the history
of California when an increase in ORR
entail trade would be naturally expect
ed and indeed without any disturbing
element in the train of reasoning,
would be logical.
| Let us look at some more figures and
appreciate the lesson they convey. In
1865 the United States supplied all
the steam turbines bought by Japan.
But in 1907, OFT of 100000 worth of
such imports, the United Kingdom
supplied 65 per cent, and the United
| States only 80 per cent, the total loss
of the United States in this department
| of trade being 20 per cent.
! In 1907 the imports of turning lathes
from the United States were reduced
to one-half the value of those of 1906,
while those from the United Kingdom
were increased. In 1906 the United
Kingdom had 10 per cent of the trade
and the United States SO per cent. In
1907 ..e United Kingdom had 76 per
cent and the United States 81 per cent,
In 1907 there was a large increase in
Japanese imports of raw cotton from
British India and China, but the guam
tity taken from the United States was
less than that taken in 1905.
Until recently, American machinery
was preferred by the japanese over
any other. Our m; ninery makers ex-
ultantly proclaimed that by Oriental
possibilities their prospects had been
improved, and there would be an OPP
portunity of giving employment to
more and more citizens at good wages.
But something las happened. Since
1907 America has been steadily falling
behind in amount and value of ma
chinery exported to Japan, while other
countries have been gaining.
In 1907 Japanese imports from the
British Empire aggregated s1O1, 223,0OO
in value. Those from tn United States
represented only $5O,OS9 1865. But Japan
ese exports to the United States rep
resented $50, 12S109, while the total
value of Japanese exports to the entire
British Empire was only $36, 931 900.
On the grave situation disclosed by the
| figures quoted, The Herald offers no
comment. 1t merely suggests that, in
respect of Oriental trade, it is evident
ly a condition and not a theory that
con ronts us