The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-26
JAPAN'S EXTERNAL
TRADE EXPANDS
Volume Is Practically Double What II
Was Prior to the War--6reat 0p-
portunities Have Resulted
from Word Catastrophe.

Toxic, Feb. 26.--Favored by the Eu
ropean war, which has opened up new
markets in foreign lands for japanese
goods, Japan's external trade has nearly
doubled in value over the figure before
the war.
The trade balance for 1916 recorded an
excess of 350,000000 yen in the amount
of exports over imports. Such enormous
excess has never been realized in the for
eign trade of Japan since the country
was opened to international trade. The
war has offered an opportunity for Jap
anese to develop or exploit new markets
in European Russia, South Africa, Aus
tralia, the South Sea islands, South
America, China, Europe and North Amer
lea, where unusually large quantities Of
japanese goods were exported.
As a by-produet of the war, the open
ing of the new steamer route via the
Cape OF Good Hope has started direct
trade between Japan and South Africa
and has brought about a sudden increase
in the volume OF japanese exports. Mi
noru Okla, director of the bureau of COM
merce and industry of the department OF
agriculture and commerce, points out
that the European war has offered fine
chance for japanese to go overseas and
seek their fortunes in foreign lands as
basis for future economic development of
the country abroad. He remarks that of
100000 population, only 100000 Jap
anese are resident abroad. OF this mum.
Der, he says, only very small percent
age represents what he calls the average
japanese, the majority consisting of la
Dor classes or women. Such situation,
he thinks, by no means argues well for
the future development OF Japanese
abroad. The latest estimate gives the
population of the country including its
at 100000. The popula
ton is increasing by about 100000 a
year. This large population is scattered
over q comparatively narrow space of
2 ,350, 100000 square miles, the density of
population per one square mile being 357. |
With the exception of Britain, Belgium,
the Netherlands and few other coun- |
.ries, Mr.. Okla points out that no coun |
.ry meets Japan in the density of popu- |
alton. Such conditions make Japan,
which still does not evolve from her sta
us as an agricultural nation, to seek an
,utlet abroad for her ever increasing pop
llation. For the furtherance of that pur-
'ose he thinks it is necessary to increase
he shipping interests, to develop mar
,ets for japanese goods in foreign lands
md to encourage the development of do
nestle manufacturing industry.
He declares that the rising generation
# the country must open their eyes to
he situation and the pressing need of
he time and volunteer themselves for
he commercial campaign in the foreign
market. He concludes: LET the com
lerce of the Japanese empire follow the
un flags which are now sighted in al
lost every nook and conner OF the Orient
nd the southern seas and are gradually r
loving elsewhere in the world
One part of the world where Japanese
has made its most remarkable
tribes forward is the western hemi
Dhere. The enormous prosperity OF the
nited States has created demand in a
nat country for Injuries from Japan, /
nd the article which forms the bulwark :
the foreign export trade to this eoun- {
v, raw silk and habutae. has exceeded c
he l00,000,000 yen mark this year. 70 Y
lie other countries of the western henri 5