Evening star., 1917-10-07

fore the war, while the exports had M
creased more than 60 per cent.
try exceeded $1o0. 600. 900. Raw SIX ID
the leading export to 'as re.
comes next with total value ranging
from $1,000, 900 upward. japan also mas
been sending some copper to this coun-
try Her porcelain ss Exports are coston one i@.
ported from the United States IL re-
turned in the form Of fabrics.
It is an illustration of the nature or
trial nations. that while the United
States draws on Japan for raw SIX
Japan draws on the United States for
raw cotton. India is the principal
but they are dependent on q certain
proportion Of the superior quality pro.
duced in this country. The imports OF
raw cotton from the W ynissd ssS oss stats ,,s
ward
The United States supplies Japan
with the bulk Of her kerosene, although
It is done in competition with the
East Indies. This country also FUR
nishes some pig, iron and large guam
titles Of machinery and iron and steel
products. The market for these prod
ucts has been greatly enhanced be-
supply them during the war.
The question of the future IL how
far the United States will be able TO
hold the market that IT has obtained.
nreeiatsd nmeb,ts the % possibilities Of the % JapS
neses market, and have themselves
visited Japan to study the situation at
close range. They have been received
most Hospitality by the Japanese gov
ernment.
The future market depends in some
degree on tariff adjustments. Japan
has a commercial treaty with Eng
land which was negotiated with the
Kingdom an advantage in certain lines.
even to the sacrifice Of some japanese
industrial advantages. This was in
particular true as concerned texties.
The United States has favored nation
treatment from Japan. but it never.
has made much headway in competing
with England in textiles
X *
What is needed to Increase exports
to Japan is tariff Arrangement which
would be based on lower rates to GER;
tain commodities of distinctly Ameri-
can manufacture. This is the principle
Of the British treaty, and 1t was also
the principle of the treaty with Ger
many which the war has abrogated.
Whether German commercial influence
ultimately will be regained in Japan
trade adjustments immediately follow.
ing the war. since it is certain that
German commercial influence win be
lessened for the time being.
Japan was a party to the economic
alliance agreed on at the Paris con-
ference in the midsummer of 1916.
While the economic annihilation OF the
German empire which was FORE
shadowed in that conference never
can be carried out. nevertheless some
and Germany be placed at q dfsad-s
vantage in the markets Of Japan that
will endure for years. Incidentally,
this will benefit tho United States az
well as England and France. for this
for which Germany had good
in Japan.
There is an underlying fact, which
the coming business mission may bring
out. although the Japanese government
may prefer that too much stress should
not be laid on it at present. This is
that the Japan of the future Is an in
dustrial and not an agricultural nation
Her foreign policy Is now based on this
How far the national i'm
pulse for economic domination Of the
far east may go and how far II may
bring Japan into economic friction with
her present allies is one Of the prob
lems of the future. Diplomacy will come.
Into play to avert actual collision Of
political character over the far east.
markets.
SO far as concerns the United States,
this subject Is likely to remain in abey-
ance while the commission Is in this
country. No harm will be done In rec
ognizing Japan's industrial prospects,
and their influence on national and in
policies. There IL the Jap-
anese point of view. the American point
II view and the European point OF view
All of these should be studied. In the
meantime. Japan's industrial develop
nent means continued purchases Of ma.
Of all kinds and also means
greater buying power Of commodities
rom the United States.