New-York tribune., 1918-03-11

OOOA OLA AAoiliS dSO, luClIIllQdLeU Cy
~ the prospective needs of the gigantic
American shipbnilding programme,
Congress authorized and the President pro-
claimed an embargo the export to japan
OF steel plates and shapes for shipbulding
purposes. This action closed the opportu-
nifty to supplement- promptly, through the
Japanese shipbulding resources, the pro-
cuctlon of ships for the use and directly
under control of the Allied governments
Although it has become apparent that the
United States produces far more steel than
can be utilized in her own programme and
could let Japan have the steel contracted
for, and much more besides, without jeop-
ardizlng American interests in any way the
embargo has been in force ever since
Japan had anticipated her own needs and
those of her allies by making contracts in
the United States for the steel necessary
to complete vessels aggregating more than
million TONS
At the present time, six months after
the embargo was laid, japanese sMpbuild-
ers are closing their yards and sitting
idly by, aoith partly finished and there
tore useless ships ON their auays. and new
construction made impossible while the
whole world is clamoring for tonnage
Japan's Capacity Over 100000 Tons
There are 113 shipways for ships of over
1000 tons standing idle, about to be-
come so, in Japan, and at last reports
twenty-elght new big ways were in course
OF construction and scheduled to be finished
by January of this year. In 1914, when the
war broke out in Europe, Japan could build
at most 100000 tons of ships a year. Her
annual capacity at present, if steel is avail
able, is more than 100000 tons Ct yeaY!
<ho
of Japanese shipping actually put into the
water up to September, 1917, when the
American embargo seriously curtaled the
output, has been nearly 100000 tons In
1914 the tonnage launched was 65 11C, in
1915 it was 98,212, in 1916 it was 1.1S4,
and up to September, 1917, it was 15S.S6O
tons, with many uncompleted ships standing
on the ways, unable to be launched for the
lack of a few plates.
The total merchant marine of Japan num-
bers 2,133 ships of all descriptions. with a
total tonnage of 1,577,O25. The chartered
bottoms however, bring the total tonnage
up to about 100000. In addition, Japan is
trying to complete her elaborate shipbuild-
ing programme. Her yards received orders
last year for $40 new ships, Of an aggregate
tonnage of 100000. They accepted these
orders depending upon the United States
for their supply of raw material. Ships
aggregating 100000 tons are now on the
ways After all available resources are ex
hausted 10000 tons of steel plates and
shapes will be lacking to complete these
ships.
Americas Steel Supply
Getting down to actual figures, the an
nual production of steel of the kind which
can be used for shipbuiding purposes in
the United States is 100000 tons. Deduct
ing 100000 tons, or 20 per cent, for mar
gin of safety, this leaves even then $500 ono
tons. The United States governments "a,
quirement to carry out the programme of
building in eighteen months 100000 tons
or ships, or 100000 tons in year. not all
OF which will be of steel, will be approxi
mately one-third of the steel shin TONNAGE
or about 1,S64,0o0 tons year.
Why, then, when there is crvinp nood of
an ever-increasing procession of shins to
Europe from the United States for tho
movement OF American armies, of munitions
lor thelr use and of supplies for their
maintenance, has not the United Stat.s ~
censed the export of steol to Ionan in s,'f
ficient quantities at least to enoblo ~,
Island Empire to complete the ships now
standing on her ways? The answer ia +ho+
the United States has been barrainnr for
greater proportion Of the existing ron-
anesc tonnage than Japan can afford r.
give, and this at critical period when t;rao
IS the very essence of the contract
Four proposals have so far becn NV
changed between the United States md
Japan; me hrst Japanese suggestion was
the extent of letting Japan have 600 600 t,ro W.
Of steel on the condition that tho ,rains
part of the 100000 tons of shins tS"t
Japan then proposed to build shou,d w