New-York tribune., 1918-08-26
ar East Offers
Big rade Field
For u. S. Houses
Large Earnings in Philippines by
Pioneer American
Firms

In preparing for after -the-war trade
American business men should not fail
to appreciate that our Far Eastern
possessions offer a highly promising
commercial field and vantage ground
for successful trade in the Orient,
according to Leon Ancheta, formerly
secretary to T. R. Yangoo. resident
commissioner from the Philippines.
Mr.. Ancheta, who has been spending
some time in New York making inves-
legations with view to promoting COM
mercial relations between the United
States and the Philippines, in an in
terview yesterday said:
"The Philippines, with an area of
approximately 115,0O0 square miles,
have population of about 100000,
almost twice as large as that of Aus
tralia. Their contact with Western
civilization since the discovery of the
islands by Spain, in 1921, makes the
people European in many customs and
habits, and their needs are naturally
identical in many respects with those
Of the Occident. With the increasing
buying capacity Of the Philippines, the
potential market for manufactured
products has scarcely been touched,
and the few pioneer American firms
established in the islands have made
large earnings during the last few
years. One of these found the field so
attractive that 1t has extended its busi-
ness to include many additional lines.
Can Supply Raw Materials
"Of the raw products now needed all
over the world the Philippines can sup
ply vast quantities. These include
copra, cocoanut cake, hemp, maguey,
shells, sugar, tobacco, lumber, nuts and
other commodities. The rapid expan-
sion Of American shipbuilding will
make MANILA hemp and maguey essen
tial products for some time to come.
Other Philippine raw materials can be
made equally profitable when a reason
able amount of American capital is in
vested in the islands. The safety Of
such investments, even though the
Philippines should eventually obtain
their independence, is obvious in view
of the great issues to be settled after
the war protecting small nations from
the inroads of the stronger powers.
"The time las come when American
firms should survey the field and es
tablish themselves in the islands, where
German trade has been entirely elmi
mated and the cooperation of American
business men in the development of
Philippine commerce and industry is
particularly desired and welcomed by
the government and the people.
Manila a Gateway to Asia
"The establishment Of a branch in
Manila can be made the basis for
future expansion in Oriental trade.
That city is the gateway to Asia, the
center Of the worlds population. The
Philippines have good harbors and
adequate facilities for the erection of
warehouses, so that they could easily
be made the distl buting center Of
American trade in the Orient. The
same influences that made Amster-
dam, Hamburg, and other ports great
center spots, will manifest themselves
in Manila, and these can be accele-
rated if American capital and brains
come to our assistance
1--WE regard with equanimity the
shipping outlook after the war, not
doubling that the same spirit of CO.
operation shown in the past will con-
tlnue, and that the web that Uncle
Sam is building to connect the trade
corners of the world will result to
our benefit and advantage. The
Government is keeping in
ciose touch with developments in
W ash'ngton and IS sparing no effort
to seek reasonable assistance from