Evening star., 1920-03-14
By THEODORE E. BURTON,
Former senator From Ohio,


Former Senator From Ohio.
n the year 1884 the total foreign
trade Of Japan reached a value
of only $32. .000. 900, or 81 cents per
capita. In 1918 the value of ex-
ports and imports was over $1,s15,oo0,-
! 900, and the per capita had reached
$32. Exports made up $9S0,0OO, 900 OF
this amount
Due allowance must be made for
| higher prices, for shipments Of mu-
nitions and military supplies to Eng
| land, France and Italy, and for the de-
mands Of countries whose supplies had
! been cut off from the ordinary sources
by the dislocation of war. Neverthe-
| less the trade of the first six months
of 1919 equaled and slightly surpassed
| the average during the preceding four
years.
There are well defined tendencies in
| the foreign trade Of Japan in de-
| scribing which temporary conditions
arising from the war should be elimi-
mated. OF raw materials the xports
are almost none. while imports are
| more than half the total. Exports OF
manufactured articles are constantly
| increasing. while the imports, though
still large, are relatively diminishing.
A distinctive phase in exports has
been the shipment to less developed
| countries Of goods of. inferior grade,
though Of very general use. II we
accept the opinion of one Of her min
| 1ol
policy. Some eight years ago he said
! OF China: China has people, and
population is what makes trade. No
other country offers so vast a field.
China is our nearest neighbor,
our best customer. Trade with
peoples Of lower social standards is
always more easy and profitable.
80 Should We lose China as a GUS
toner it would be the ruin of our
commercial prospects"
1t may be added that the majority
OF exports is made up Of products in
which cheap labor is employed, where
J the average wage is less than 81 a
| day.
Trade With Asia Discussed.
There has been a notable expansion
in trade with the less distant coun-
tries. especially those of eastern
Asia Until near the close of the last
century commerce with Europe was
the largest Of any Of the grand di-
visions. Then Asia took the lead and
the proportion Of trade with that
| continent has exhibited uniform
! growth a-'s -.
| The export Of the products of home
! or cottage industry is comparatively
small. The explanation is found in
| the difficulty Of gathering from a
multitude of small producers a suff-
! cient quantity for profitable trade,
| also in the lack Of Standardization.
| such as can be gained in factory pro-
duction. japanese art, such as lac
quered ware. though Of a high order
| OF merit. has never gained any
strong foothold in foreign countries
| Articles which have been made in
Japan from time immemorial, such as
| fans, screens and floor mating. are
less exported than fifteen years ago.
OF specific exports from Japan raw
silk. q partly manufactured product,
$1s5.ooo.0oo in 1918. five sixths of
is well in the lead with a value Of
| which was sent to the United States.
In addition there is a large export Of
| manufactured silk and silk waste.
Next comes the item classified as cot
ton tissues. or fabrics. including va
rious articles made up from cotton
cloths. Third in rank IL cotton yarn.
Exports Of silk and cotton products
approximate one-half Of the whole.
Steel ships were exported in 1918
to tho value Of 5000, 900. mostly to
the United States and France. Though
conditions were exceptional. the
building Of ships for other countries
may continue. There are still un-
filled orders. Metal manufactures
were sent abroad to the value of $24.-
100000 and an almost equal value Of
drugs and chemicals, in which by
supreme effort japan developed an
extensive industry during the war.
Passing from the above commodi-
ties there is hardly one in which ex-
ports, Independent Of war demands,
equal $20.000.0o though there is an
almost unlimited variety.
Exports of copper amounted to
SIS, ,0oo. 900. and Of coal $4,000. 900, but
it seems hardly possible, in view of
the growing requirements at home.