Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13

Flemish provinces is common and might
properly be considered a domestic neces-
sity as much as the horse.
Stock-raising. too, is part of the Bel
g1an agricultural system. The Flemish
draught horses are sought for by all
countries. and every .year from 5000 to,
10000 of them are exported. The United
States takes a thousand of them each
year.
An industrial nation with limited ag-
ricultural area inevitably becomes a fac
tor In the worlds commerce. Foodstuffs
nave to be imported and raw materials
to supplement those within the country,
such as coal and zinc The exports nat
urally are of manufactured products.
To those who are not close students of
world commerce. the figures of Belgium's
foreign trade will be an astonishing reve-
lation of the astonishing Belgians. Until
few years ago the Little country had an
international commerce equal to that of
all South America In round numbers
1t is $1,7Oo.0O0,OOO. Some of this is tran
sit commerce for continental neighbors,
but the bulk of it is based on Belgian
consumption and production. In recent
year the imports were $685., COO, 900 and the
exports S.66 100000 The great volume of
the commerce is with Germany, France
and Great Britain. All of this is upset
by the war.
The commerce with the United States
10 al AdsoIdolc " tTlS country, since Bel
GUM must have gran, -four and other
foodstuffs, as well as cotton for its in
dustries. The imports from the United
States range from $7O,O00.O0O to So, O00,-
OO. Manufactured articles form neeli-
gible quantity.
In ordinary years the United States alb
serbs SIS, OOOO00 to $50, 100000 of Belgian
products. During the war these will be
shut off; and doubtless after the war Bel
GUM will find that American manufac-
turers are producing for the home mar
ket some of the commodities which II for
merry supplied.
* 4
The United States has been a heavy
buyer of certain raw products, as well
as of manufactured commodities from
Belgium. This is because of the position
Antwerp occupies as world port for
international transit. 1t has been In the
habit of taking 100000 of hides and
skins, which have been received from,
South America and other countries,
cured, and then reshipped to the United
States. kongo rubber to the amount of
S5.COO,00O to S6O0o,0O annually has been
imported via ntwerp.
A million dollars worth of ivory has
been received in the same manner The
imports, of raw fax have ranged from
$4,000 to $1.OO0O0O. Artificial fertilizers
have amounted to $JOO,OGO
In the fine manufactured products
which are Belgium specialties, linen
goods imported by the United States in
average years amounts to S2,5o1OOJ
Laces usually approximate $4,000, and
wooden textiles the same. Artificial silk
also approximates $4,000. 1t will be
seen from this that the textile market of
the United States is an important one
for the Belgian Industries.
Belgian window and p ate glass and
photo glass have market of 81, 5oO,G 900
American consumers. for year at least,
are likely to be deprived of the oppor-
tunity to purchase all these Belgian ar
ticles.
The United States, while increasing
shipments Of grain. flour and other food
stuffs, if the ports of Antwerp and
Client are Kept open, will lose the sale
Of one of its great staple crops With the
Belgian industries Frustrated there will
be no cotton cargoes for Antwerp and
Client.
Outside of it's European trade which
= is involved in the general war catacysm,
Belgium will suffer vastly in its over
seas commerce. - Two or three years ago