New-York tribune., 1913-06-23
This Country Practically Con-
surnes One Third of Nip
pon'S Output.
WE ALSO LEAD IN EXPORTS
S63,253,847 Products Sold to
Island Empire Last Year,
Says Consular
Report.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. June 22.-Japans best
customer in 1912 was the United States,
and the United States was also the chief
exporter in japanese trade last year
This fact is set forth in a report by
Thomas Sammons. Consul General at
Yokohama, 10 the Department Of State.
Mr. Sammons also asserts that the year
1912 was a record breaker in the for
eiGn commerce of Japan in both imports
and exports
Mr.. Sammons estimates that the United
States consumes practically one-third OF
all that Nippon sells to the entire world
and believes that this trade will increase
materially with settled conditions in
China. the opening OF the Panama Canal
and the development of new Industries
in Japan
"The increase in 1912 of '22.70,S4 In
Japan's imports from the United States
not including Hawaii and the Philip
pines. surpassed all previous records.
apart from the temporary Russo-Japan-
ese war increase Of s23,0Doo@, says
Mr.. Sammons. This remarkable in
crease may he made still more formida-
hle by including in the advances the sale
of Philippine products in japan, the two
items of hemp Increased sale S,S13'oool
and sugar Increased sale S5H.oOoj
bringing the total up to more than va
500. 900.
when il is considered. having the
above figures IN mind, that the sale OF
American products in Japan increased
upward of sl3. 1000 900. in 1911, as com
pared with 1910. and that the total i'm
ports from the United States for 1917
we're 63.253S47 for Japan proper. the
highest point ever reached, II will he
seen that this trade has far more than
doubled in two years. II is worthy or
note. moreover. that while the total in
crease of imports into Japan, Taiwan
GormosaD and Chosen CKoreaD from the
entire world was sj5.4ll,S7 in 1912. the
United States alone contributed more
than 80 per cent This gratifying In
crease should serve TO stimulate further
efforts to bring the total sales or the
United States In Japan (and throughout
the Far East generally TO point oi
greater equality with European countries
"Japan's foreign trade I'm l9l2 was
greater by 81. .927 ,4S9 than for the previous
record year Of 1911. From SD1.759,s6 In
1911 the t95.927. .i39 advance I'm 1872 brought
the grand total mp to 500. 3.6s6,G45 These
figures are for Japan proper. TaiWan ana
Chosen, but exclude th. k"aintuns
leased territory. which largely as
a gateway for Japan,sc sal enort
in Manchuria and the cthc, northeastern
provinces Of China I'm 1872, therefore,
Japan's foreign commerce exceeded all
previous records.
NO doubt the most significant feature
Of the year was the remarkable advance
in the sale OF American products. par
ticularly raw cotton. Heretofore the per-
centage rating Of the United States in
exports TO the Far East. as compared
with European countries, has been de-
cidedly unfavorable, but for 1912 America,
including Hawaii and the Philippines,
took the lead in Japan's imports. II VIII
be difficult matter to hold this highly
advantageous position. although the pros
poets for 1913 are satisfactory
Mr. Sammons reports that the chief
items of increase In Japan's exports TO
the United States were raw and waste
silk, mostly the former while the most
notable decrease was in copper ingots
and slabs. The items showing an increase
Of more than 10000 We're: Coal. A,l55.-
ooo. increase Of SOS 700; hats, $4,000. in
crease Of ti23 60; rice S,7S5.oco, increase Of
$37S, 90; raw silk and waste. I5L5io.00o. In
crease of sl2eOSOo. and sulphur, A26,cc,
increase OF $4,000.