The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-08
THE RICHMOND v1Ra1n1Ax-sUNDAY rovEMBER g. 1914

tho taste ana requirements of their
payment for the goods they ship
abroad. On the other hand. European
countries. especially Germany and Eng
land, take pains to study tho taste of
their patrons, and are willing to sell
goods on credit. extending over . year
and even longer.
German Methods to he Studied.
In her efforts 70 expand her foreign
trade America would do we'll to study
German methods. The German govern
ment practices q system Of rebates and
determinations in order to encourage
export trade. It enfrces q discrimi-
mating schedule Of railway rates for
goods destined to other European
countries and another for overseas
countries. At the same time a system
OF special steamship rates for differ
ent foreign points has been devised. In
adopting such measures the govern
expansion of foreign trade stimulates
prosperity at home. In her colonies
Germany adopts a discriminatory policy
against foreign interests In other
words. Germany holds the trade Of her
colonies under q close bureaucracy and
gives little opportunity to outsiders.
Even in territories outside her colonial
Jurisdiction she has secured exclusive
right to the exploitation of economic
resources. In the Kiauchow conven-
ton. for instance. Germany binds
"China in all cases where foreign as
sistance. in persons. capital or ma
terial. may be needed for any purposes
whatever within the province of Shan
tung (area $685. square miles) to Of
fer the said work of supplying mate
rails. in the first instance. to German
manufacturers and merchants engaged
in undertakings OF the kind in ques-
ton.
The United States. of course. need
not emulate such methods, but there
are features of German commercial
policy which might we'll be adopted
by America. At Shanghai for instance.
there Is the German bureau of COM
merce whose sole object Is to inquire
into commercial and Industrial condi-
lions throughout China The experts.
all German employs some fifteen
These men are constantly travelling In
all parts of China and are reporting
to the bureau at Shanghai on all mat
ters relating to commerce and indus
try. At the Shanghai bureau the data
thus gathered are carefully compiled
and edited and forwarded to the Berlin
government for the Information of Ger
man commercial concerns interested in
Far Eastern trade. This 10 only one OF
many instances showing the systematic
efforts which Germany 10 making to
promote her oversee commerce.
Open Door Japan's Established.
Policy.
AS far as Japan is concerned she
will throw no obstacle in the path OF
Americas commercial advance IN the
may adopt for the promotion OF her
own interests will be legitimate and
impartial. Discrimination will be the
last step she will ever taxa Japan has
geographical advantage and enjoys the
dement's of abundant labor; her traders
are more familiar with economic con-
ditions in China than those of other
countries why should she resort to
unfair means Of competition and thus
invite the suspicion and jealousy of
Western nations:
Pretudiced writer's have done much
harm in spreading false information
with regard to japanese policy In Man
churia and Korea For the public mis-
guided by such interruptions writer's
I can do no better than quoting from
Mr.. Robert p Porter's authoritative
book. The Full Recognition Of Japan"
the follow letter written by a British
merchant III 1hAH6 Els&ihCu0ti
with regard to that part OF Man
churia which comes under Japanese
influence. too great praise cannot be
given. The conveniences and facilities
afforded by the japanese to one and all
In regard 70 banking institutions. rail-
way communications. postal and tele-
graph service are far and away gu
perior to those afforded by the Russian
and the Chinese institutions. The
~ avL - nv.
merous branches. enables foreign trad
ers to transact business on the same
lines as they are accustomed to do in
other civilized countries. Transactions
with this bank are fires from the exor-
hftant rates and the petty red-tapeism.
to which 1t IL necessary to conform In
working with either the Russians or
Chinese. It is a recognized fact that
II takes any time over an hour to get
a check casiied at Russian bank;
moreover. the absence of any know
ledge Of the English language renders
transactions with them considerably
frksome Every employee In the Yoko-
hama Specie Bank. on the other hand.
has good knowledge of the English
language. Notwithstanding the fact
fact that the Chinese customs are sup
posed to manage tho postal service in
Manchuria, that service has become
Of Chinese correspondence. The Japa-
nese appear to handle the greater part.
II not all. OF the foreign mail in a
manner.
an conclusion. Japan has fulfilled
all her obligations. and continues to do
SO, in the development Of Manchurta,
and woe betide the day IL the country
comes under Russian influence or II
IL IL handed back again to the control
of the Chinese. Too sgreat attention
cannot be devoted to this country by
the press in Great Britain. in order to
direct the attention Of British firms to
the enormous prospects which await
them here in various directions. 1t Is
to be hoped they viii soon awaken
to these possibilities. II these efforts
are delayed too long they will and