Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-01
pam DOUBLES TRADE
SINCE OPENING OF WAR
'rrnde Balance for 1915 Amounts to
35O,OOO,000 Yen In Exports
Over Imports.
MINISTER URGES EMIGRATION
Director Of Commerce Advises Ills
People to Settle Abroad and De-
relop Foreign Mnrkcts--Polrila
ton Must Have Outlet.

ton Must Have Outlet.
TOKYO, February 2S.--Favorcd by
the European war. which has opened
NJ new markets III foreign lands for
Japanese goods. .fapan's external trade
has nearly doubled in value over tho
figure before the war.
Tho trade balance 70: 1916 recorded
excess of 100000 900 yen in the
amount OF exports over imports. Such
enormous excess has never been real
sB:ed in the foreign trade OF Japan since
Hhc country was opened To intcrna-
ft"nal trade. The war has offered AN
opportunity Tor Japanese to develop
or exploit now markets ia European
Russia, South africa Australia. the
south sea Islands South America.
China. Europe and North America.
where unusually large quantities Of
Japanese goods were exported.
AS bY-product Of the war, the
opening OF the new steamer route VIA
tho Cape or Good Hope has started
direct trade between Japan aud South
Africa, and has brought about sud.
den increase in tho volume of Japa-
ncse exports Minoru Okla director OF
the bureau OF commerce and industry
Of the Department OF Agriculture and
Commerce. points out that the Eu-
ropean war has offered Il fine chance
for Japanese 10 go overseas and seek
their fortunes in foreign lands as a
basis for future economic dcrclo pment
OF the country abroad lie remarks
that OF 100000 population. only 6oo.-
600 Japanese resident abroad OF
this number, he says. only very small
percentage represents what he calls
H., to-,
consisting OF labor classcs women.
Such a situation. he thinks. by
means augurs we'll for the future de-
vclopment Of Japanese abroad. The
latest estimate gives the population
OF the country. including it's depend
cncies, n 100000. The population is
increasing by about 100000 year.
This large population is scattered over
comparatively narrow space Of 2.a1o-
600 square miles, tho density Of
population per one square mile being
So. With the exception of Britain.
Belgium, the Netherlands and a few
other countries, Mr. Okla points out
that no country meets Japan III the
density Of population. Such conditions
makes Japan, which still docs not
evolve from her status as agricul
tural nation. 10 seek an outlet abroad
for her cvcr-incrcasing population.
For the furthcrancc o. that purpose,
lie thinks II is necessary 10 increase
the shipping interests. 10 develop
markets for japanese goods in for
cign lands and TO encourage the de-
vclopmcut Of domestic manufacturing
industry.
Urges Rising GENERATIOS
TO Volt NrEEH THEMSELVES
ton of the country must open their
eyes to the situation and the pressing
need Of tho time. and volunteer them
selves for the commercial campaign in
tho foreign market. IL concludes:
Let tho commerce OF the japanese en-
pirc follow the sun Tags which arc
now sighted in almost every nook and
corner Of tho Orient and tho Southern
Seas and arc gradually sovtnG else
where III the void
Ono part Of the world where Jap
ancsc commerce has made its most re-
markahlc strides forward is tho West
crn Hemisphere. The enormous pros
pcrity Of the United States has created
q demand in that country for luNurics
from Japan. and tho article which
forms the bulwark of the foreign cN-
port trade TO this country, raw SILK and
habutae has exceeded the 100000, 900
yen mark this year. To tho other
countries Of the Western Hemisphere.
TOO japanese exports have Increased
greatly, and the progress made by the
japanese merchants III the countries
OF South Americas Pacific slope and
also with Brazil aud Argentina is re-
Sardcd as rcmarkabic.
The Importance which Japan gives
to tho development of her foreign trade
is seen in a decision just Gazetted IL
appoint i've new government officials
to be designated As industrial and COM
mercial attaches. They Will he sta
toned at New York, London. Shanghai,
South America and South Sea Islands.
Their mission wiil include travelling to
,ncighboring ports and cities for the in
lspcction of industrial and commercial
conditions, with view to furnishing
Japanese commercial and industrial
circles with first-hand knowledge from
foreign lands
The commissioners will he appoint cd
from among the abcst mon in business
circles. and they will have no conncc-
tion with diplomatic or political af-
fairs They Will. however. be attached
to the Foreign Office. which thus
creates a bureau of commercial and in
dustrial commissioners,
l SpEciiI Atom IN ARMY