New Britain herald., 1918-01-02

m onths for Canada, and Somewhat shorter periods for the other princi-l pal countries, covering however a suf-s f1cient proportion of the year to justi-l fly an estimate that the total interna-a tional trade of the year will be the largest in history. Tn the case of the United States the total trade of the year is estimated at approximately nine billion dollars against less than four billions in 1913. In Great Britain the total for the eleven months iss over seven billion dollars against five and three-quarter billion dollars ind 1913. Canada's total for ten months ending with October is over two bilYgI lion dollars against $88,000,00O inf the same months of 1913 and Japan1 for the nine months ending with SepI tember $914 100000 against $507, ,000
 900 in the corresponding months dhN 1913. For France no official figuresH are available for 1917 though th6N imports estimated by an eXanlinatioH of figures of exports from other coun tries to France are apparently abou8 50 per cent more than in 1913. Il theACentra1 Powers no official figuros4 are availa ble though it is known thaNl their over-sea trade is, of course, cufN off; they have imported very largely4 from adjacent neutral countries and3 the exchanges between the countries1 forming the group now known as tha@ Central Powers" have also been very9 great. In the Allied countries a part4 of their trade, that conducted by orr on behalf of the government, has been omitted from the official figures
 The largest change is that of23 the Allies. The total trade of GroatrBrlt- ain, France, Italy, Russia,r Unfteda States, Canada and Japan in 1913 was a little more than eighteen billion dol- lars, while the figures thus far re- ported for the current year suggest that their total for 1917 may approx- innate twenty-five billion dollars.
 The neutral sections of the world show little change in their grand totalA of trade in 1917 as compared with 1913, though there are marked changes in it's characteristics. In South America the imports of 1917 are far below those of 1913. in which year ihe imports of that continent were tho highest in it's history. The inn ports of 1917 will be little more than half those of 1913, though the 1917 exports will apparently exceed those Of 1913 by about 25 per cent
 Oriental trade of 1917 will some what exceed that of 1913. In Japan exports are double those of 1913 and imports show an increase of about 50 per cent. In China the imports show a decline, and while there is a good demand for her silk at high prices, the best markets for her tea have been difficult of access. India shows a de- cline in imports and a slight reduction of exports, due chiefly to lack of transportation. The great rubber plantations of Ceylon, the Malayan Peninsula and the Dutch East Indies, however, show large increases in their production and sales, and the sugar output of Java was larger and at higher prices than formerly.
 The neutral countries of Europe show material increases in the value of their exports, but slight decreases in the value of their imports. What ever they have to spare in food and manufacturing materials is eagerly purchased by their neighbors, both the Central powers and the Allies, at i:h priceA