Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-22
Campaign for the Establish
ment of American Business
Interests There.
PLAN ALREADY DEVISED
TO MEET COMPETITION
System Said to Have the Approval Of
the State and Commerce
Departments.

In order to meet the competition OF
other nations in trade in China, an
aggressive campaign for the establish
ment of American business interests
there has been outlined by the State
Department and the Department OF
Commerce, it was announced here last
night.
Under the plan devised there will be
built up an American vested interest
in China which will assure the United
States share of that country's for
eign trade. and which will be strong
enough to care for itself in the COM
plicated political situation there.
Secretary Lansing of the State De-
partment and other administration Off
Gals have given their Endorsement to
this plan. which was developed by Paul
S: Reinsch. United States minister to
China: Julean Fl. Arnold, commercial
attache at Picking, and DIR. f. f. Pratt,
chiet or the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce. The bureau Of
foreign and domestic commerce has AL
ready begun work along the lines sug-
gested, it was said.
Mr.. Arnold will return to the United
states during the winter and tour the
country TO secure capital for invest
ment in China.
No Steps to Secure Concessions.
State Department officials have been
anxious over commercial conditions in
China since the recent granting of ex-
tensive special privileges demanded by
Japan. No political steps have been
taken to secure concessions or privi-
leges for Americans. however, and the
policy of the government has been
CT inc oial
tics such as other nations have en-
pioyed in China. The plan now pro-
posed is expected to develop an Amer
lean interest there which will be pow
erful enough to meet the competition
of other nations.
DR.. Pratt pointed out last night
that American capital was p;ling up
as a result of the European war and
that vast sums of idle capital are
available for investment The bu-
every opportunity now offered in
China and to have an American in
terest strongly intrenched there at
the close of the war.
DIR. Pratt made public last night
summary of the Chinese trade situa-
ton, which said, in part:
-. A well capitalized American bank
is necessary to American trade advance
ment.
80. China offers splendid inducements
to American capital in mining enterprises.
especially in tin, zinc, antimony, lead.
coal and iron. Human province, the most
accessible of the richer mineral areas, is
a particularly inviting field for invest
ment.
"3. China offers splendid inducements to
American capital and American
chinery in connection with the erection Of
cotton yarn mills
-. Opportunities for the investment of
American capital are offered in the China
rug-making industry for rugs for the
American market
IS. American capital and expert man
agement applied to tanning hides with a
tannery at kalgan, Tientsin or Hankow
would be paying venture.
Volume of Chinese Importations.
sc. China imports annually nearly s1O,-
100000 (gold) worth of aniline and syn,
thetic dyes. A high-grade American SUBJ
stitute for the European products could
probably secure a great deal of this trade.
which is now at a standstill owing to
the lack of supplies.
~. On account of the war, China offers
a splendid field for American window
glass of the cheaper grades. Window
glass importations in China net several
millions of dollars gold each year and
prices are nearly treble those of year
ago.
IS. Because OF the war China Will be
obliged to purchase much of her railway
materials and machinery, electrical and
industrial, from the United States.
80. With the favorable exchange
which exists at the present time, Chi
nese products. which previously went
to Europe, should find markets in
America. Among these are sesamum-
seed, vegetable tallow, hides, egg prod
ucts, mineral products, wood oil, pea
nuts, bean oil, gallnuts. etc
Work along some of these lines has
already been begun by the commercial
agents of the commerce bureau in this
country. and several New England bust
ness men are now in China closing
contracts for the installation of Ameri-
can machinery in cotton mills built
under Chinese government supervision.
1t is expected that the establishment
of an American bank in China will be
the first big result of the campaign,
and this proposal is now under consid-
Grafton by various financial interests.