The sun., 1919-07-09
STRONG TRADE TIES MADE
WITH JAPAN BY THE WAR
Tremendous Increase in American Exports of Dye
Stuffs and Spinning Machinery Among Notable
Items Of Growing Business.

the machinery OF all KINDS ana types
imported into the country.
Before the world war almost all the
spinning machinery came from England.
Japanese factories were satisfied and
pleased with the British makes Amer
lean manufacturers of spinning machin-
cry troubled themselves very little about
the Japanese market. Then came the
war. The war did not excite the en-
thusiasm OF the American machine fac
tories to supply the demands OF the Jap
anese spinnerR The war did force the
Japanese customers to come to the
United States for the machinery for the
sole elemental reason that the supply
from the British makers of textile ma
chinery was almost completely cut OF.
At first the Japanese spinning COM
panles did not take to the American ma
chnery with any great degree of enthu-
siasrh. but when they saw them Installed
and at work. they were not slow to rec
osnize the many virtues and merits OF
the American products. The total I'M
portation Of American machinery and
engines OF all sorts was valued at $780,
1855 yen in 1915. Two years later, In
1918. the amount rose to 46,753.sS8--
which Is not exactly 600 per cent. In
crease, but pretty nearly so.
War, OF course. has been the cause OF
above. It was war which has given the
Japanese market to the American ex-
porter In spite of himself in many in-
stances. And II Is 'squarely up to" the
American enterprise to hold the free gift
Of a market of no mean proportions, a
market. too, whose greatest worth is Its
future possibilities.
Japan is turning from the agricultural
country into an Industrial community
more and more. Every day that passes
puts a new emphasis on Japan's depen-
dence upon the raw material resources
of the United States.
Call for American Cotton.
The ever persistent and ever expand
ing demand Of Japan for American cot
ton paints this phase Of Japan's devel-
opment In a striking color. The raw
cotton production of Japan Is very small
and getting less and less every year.
In 1887 she produced more cotton than
In any other year; at that II only
amounted to 1876, 100000 pounds. The
total cotton production Of japan proper
in 1916 was less than 100000 pounds,
Tho demand for greater area for rice
production Is the chief cause which has
brought about this decline In the pro-
duction OF cotton. Our country paid
more than 100000 yen for the Amer.
lean raw cotton imported In 1917. I,
was In 1885 that Japan made her frs,
purchase of American cotton--a sample
bale OF $40 pounds. The growth Of the
trade lie not remarkable; 1t Is well nigh
incredible. And the best part of the
Japanese trade in American raw cot
ton Is that 1t Is destined to grow
steadily.
The pronounced tendency Of the Japa.
nese spinning mills Is to produce finer
threads. China, which Is the chief mar
ket of the Japanese mills, is producing
eoarser counts of yarn more and more
out Of her own raw cotton, ana the
Japanese mills will be forced to extend
their production of the finer grade
which the Chinese mills will find din.
cult and Improbable to manufacture
And for the production OF finer count,
of yarn the short stapled Indian ant
Chinese cottons will not answer, Japa.
nese mills will be forced to come C
the United States for the long staplet
cotton.
Tradal interdependence among nations
may not insure the world against the
future wars. but II IL one Of the mos
effective safeguards against them. What
Is important in these days OF so much
wild talk Is for both Japan and the
United States to realize how much tht
one needs the other.