New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-09
War Has Diverted Its
Energy from Importing
to Exporting.
HER AGENTS BUSY
IN ALL MARKETS
Seamen's Law and Alliance with
Russia Add to Menace to
u. S. Commerce.
Prom The Tribune Bureau J


war orders, Japan has been gobbling up
most Of the rest of the worlds trade'
according TO advices and statistics re-
ceived by the Department Of Commerce
The most dsquieting feature OF the
Japanese commercial expansion is that
indications are the coming Of peace
will not affect 1t.
Japan has flooded the Far Eastern
countries with samples OF her products
and has invaded them with her agents.
who have grasped every opportunity TO
displace goods from other countries
not only by offering their products for
less money but by extending better
credit.
From an importing country the Euro
pean war has changed Japan into an
exporting country. Japan's manufact-
uring industries have been widely ex-
tended. The prices and demand for the
country's products excepting coal
rice and a few other articles) and for
its ships are on the increase. snip
builders and steamship companies are
enjoying unusual prosperity. Many
new industries are being pushed ahead
the larger investments being for iror
works, shipbuilding, paper milling. and
making dyes and drugs, paints and
other chemical industries.
Seamcn's Law Aids Japan.
The seamen's law, which drove the
American flag from the Pacihc,
strengthened Japan's control of the
markets in the Far East, while Jap
anese occupation Of Tsing-tau and OF
Teutonic owned islands in the South
Seas removed German influence from
that section.
Then. too, the recent Russian-Japan-
csc alliance is believed by commercial
circles seriously to menace Americas
chances Of extending her commercial
influence in the Far East. Not only is 1t
believed that q check is thus placed on
American commercial expansion IN the
Far East, but Great Britain's ambition
10 hold the upper hand in this section
of the commercial world is blighted.
Japan and Great Britain control
China's imports, the extension OF Jap
snese sales into China being more at
the expense of the United States than
of the United Kingdom. Japan, Tor
instance, is making serious inroads
into American sales of cotton goods to
China, British exports OF the same ar
ticles having remained fairly steady.
Big Increase of Exports.
Imports of merchandise into Japan
during 1915 were valued at S265,l6O,-
O69. a decrease Of S3l ,5l6,322 compared
with 1914. Exports Of merchandise
from the country were valued at $685.
736,6S4, an increase of o6,36o,356 over
1914.
The increase in the export trade ap-
pears principally under the heads OF
metals and metal manufactures, from
S35.lO0,OO0 to S72,000,000. Copper
alone increased from sl3,5o0,O00 to
500 900 900, going mostly to Great
Britain, the United States and France.
OF munitions and war supplies there
has been large output. Other arti-
cles showing large increases in export
are, in order of Importance. silk tbs
sues, rice, pottery, tea and csmphor.
As to the countries of destination,
the most prominent increases IN eX-
ports were: Great Britain, Sl6,4000OO
10 S34100.000; Asiatic Russia S5,lOO,-
900 to S3S,900,0OO; France, $4,000 600
to sol 100000; British India, Sl2'9U0'-
600 to s2l 900, 900; Australia, s5,4Oo,-
coo to SO 100000. and United States,
s97,s00,o00 to SlOl,60O.O0O.
Gaining on the United States.
japanese exports to the United
States during the eleven months ended
Nav 81 last amounted to sl3l ,76o,3bo,
against S9l.976,s46 in the corresponds.
ing period a year previous, gain OF
unfortunately SAC. 100000. The gain
- American exports to Japan IN TINS
period was only s2S,000,oO0.
The exclusion of German business
houses and trade in Australia, New
Zealand, India and other Far Eastern
countries has rebounded to the ad-
vantage of the japanese. Especially is
this true Of New Zealand and Austria
/ liza, where Japanese trade is hnding
ready markets.
japan also has extended her trade TO
South Africa, principally because she
! operates a shipping line via Cape OF
/ Good Hope. BY this direct means
Japan has been able not only to. get the
/ wool necessary for her mills, but has
1 carried large shipments OF her own
products TO South Africa.
The imperial Japanese government
has organized a trade commission to in
yestiCate the condition Of foreign mar
kets as affected by the war. During the
present fiscal year, which runs from
/ April /, 1916, to March 81, 1917, mem
| bcrs of the commission will be sent 20
| India, the South Sea Islands. Australia,
/ Europe and North and South America
! to carry on Investigations IN conIunc'
/ ton with Japanese consuls.
The Mitsu Bishi Company plans a
! branch in New York in addition 70 one
/ in London TO facilitate Americo-As
! trade after the war. The Sumitomo
! Bank. Of Osaka, il is stated, will estab-
! Esh branches at Honolulu and San
| Francisco. A raw cotton company is
10 be established in Texas by the
Japan Cotton Company, with capital
of S49. $50.
In China the Sino-Japanese Indus
trial Company has acquired rights for
/ the ao-Chung mine in Anhui, and Is
projecting the establishment Of large
iron founding company with capital
of s9,970,O00 The South Manchurla
Railway Company also has secured
rights for the Anshanchan and seven
other mines. The Naigai Cotton Com
pany. of Osaka, contemplates extend
! ING the equipment Of its cotton mill At
cA-L .. -, On mn Sptpdlss AZ an aY-