The Washington times., 1913-12-26
j. 5. TRADE WITH
AFRICA INCREASING
Rapid Growth in American
Exports Is Shown in Govern.
ment Report.

United States trade in South Africa
II undergoing a rapid and substantial
growth, and American success in that
market il refutation Of the assertion
that German competition is driving
American manufacturers from the field
Of foreign trade, according to state
ment from the Department Of Com
merce..
During the year 1912. the United
States outranked all other countries in
trade with the Union of South Africa,
passing Germany for the first time In
iive years. This was accomplished in
spite Of the facs snd q aEee geeo
German capital in the mines ana indus
tries Of the country, and German man
ufacturers each year send out repre-
sentatives to get q larger share OF the
trade.
Far In the Lead.
The value Of the imports Of mer-
chandise from the United States into
the provinces which make up the Union
of South Africa has risen from ss,446,-
sss in 1907 to $15.7ss.321 in 1912. an
increase of more than 66 per cent. We
supply more oil, agricultural machinery.
timber, and lumber, windmills, and car
riages and carts than any other country
including the United Kingdom, and,
with the exception Of lumber, more than
all other countries combined. Mining
machinery, motor cars. hardware, boots
and shoes, electrical machinery, CORFU
gated iron, furniture, tools. typewriters.
cash registers. and miscellaneous iron
and steel products are other articles
which are sold extensively in the coun-
try The success % q the Am american sn nns as-
nomenaL According to our own statis-
tics the exports Of automobiles TO South
Africa have increased in value from
$61, ,186 in the fiscal year ended tune 80,
1872 tS ay sats N H,as the ran. sSa h Saar
following Canada, England. Australia,
and Argentina, as purchaser Of Amer
lean motor cars.
That Britain In aroused over the en-
croachments Of American commerce in
South Africa II shown in warnings
given by the British press.
In q recent issue Of the London DAILY
Telegraph there was printed cable
dispatch from Johannesburg respecting
the extended tour Of Ralph NJ. Odel.
commercial agent Of the Bureau Of For
ment OF Commerce. who is making
study of the cotton markets of the
world. 1t was stated that:
Something bold will have to be done
to retain what trade they are doing
UNITED states trade with South
Africa topped that of Germany In l9lZ
American enterprise is In the ascendent,
SO much so that unless British mer-
chants and manufacturers hustle more
they will get gradually left behind.
In the October, 1913 issue of the Brit
ish and South African Export Gazette,
published In London, the following Is
printed:
Warned Of Competition.
'Tor years the British manufactures
has been bombarded with warnings
against the aggressive nature Of Amer
lean competition in South Africa, and
II Is q statistical fact that since 1908
the United States shipments 10 that
market have increased by more than
Even now a note Of warning against
American responsiveness in South AZ
in s connection N e with the tour which is
being undertaken by Mr. Odell on be.
half Of the United States Department
Of Commerce.
'It is noteworthy. BY the way. that
Mr edes mission ~ y Go concerned Sz.t ;n,n with
ance. but in which the fighting spirit
is less apparent than in any other. He
Is investigating the openings for Ameri-
can cotton goods. particularly In view
return trade will develop in wool. that
product being on the free list under
the new United States tariff. Apparent.
Iy secure IN their enormous trade in
cotton goods the United Kjngdon's
amount sn,osn to over W sa.5oo. 900. British marue
lecturers are undoubtedly indulging In
an unprcgressive policy, with the re-