New-York tribune., 1921-02-11
American Ships
Lose Share of
Trade in Japan
Few Are Seen in Japanese
Ports Now Compared With
aYear Ago; Sharp Decline
in FreigIlts To BE Secured
New Liners Are a Factor
shipping Board Vessels Will
Cornplicate the Situation,
Saws Toxic Publication

Saws Toxic Publication
American shipping men in Japan are
,.norted, to be greatly concerned over
:. sharp decrease in the amount Of
wade carried in American vessels. In
.,ntrast with year ago, when more
tssn a score Of ships flying the Ameri-
AN aag were frequently seen in Yoko-
s.ma Harbor at one time, American
x.sssls are now rarity there, it is
stated.
The cause for the great decline is
,,nribed as 8 belated result of the
yrsst slump in Japanese business and
.ss trouble caused in China because
Al The drop in the value of silver.
III. effect is more marked in the case
# japan, as it concerns both export
and import trade, while in China the
dsoreciation in silver has merely af-
fscted China as buyer, the export
market remaining good.
Shipping Slump Belated
Although the Japanese trade de-
sression dates back to last March, no
serious effects were felt by shipping
until few months ago. This was
que to the fact that for months after
the slump goods kept coming across
the Pacific which had been ordered in
times of prosperity, for which the or
ders could not be Cancelled. Last fall
saw the end Of this business, however,
and since then so little cargo has been
moving from Japan that shipping has
found little to do. AS export cargo par
tcularly is shipped by japanese bot
,toms wherever possible, American ships
taking freight from Japanese ports
cave been extremely rare.
Most Of the American cargo car
riers going to the Orient are Shipping
Board vessels operating under the
flags of various companies. In Sep
tember nineteen Shipping Board boats
took $4,000 tOas Of cargo to Japan
frem America and 1000 tons from
Japan to the United States. In Oc-
tober five vessels took 1000 tons from
this country and two brought 400 tons
from Japan. In November thirteen
ships took 1880 tons to Japan and
three vessels brought 1000 tons to
America.
Freight Difficult to Get
All American freight carriers now
running to Japan, according to advices,
are operating at q loss, with the occa-
sional exception Of ship which has
the luck to run into g change. lucrative
cargo. Complaint is made that even
when an agency has managed to obtain
freight in Japan there is likely to be
cancellation at the last moment, not
owing to any lack of desire on the part
OF the shipper to have his goods
moved, but due as rule TO financial
difficulties.
The outlook is declared to be un-
promising. Although considerable steel
VIII have to be imported by Japan to
carry out her warship building pro-
gram, 1t Is said to be certain that the
Japanese government will give the
transport OF ~. 81 ga.=~sic ically all Of
Aa$ NaEe-fal 70 Japanese vessels.
other threatening factors are indi-
eaIed ny the Trans-Pacitic, including
Ae arrival in the spring on Pacific
paae routes OF ten fine new Shipping
DOsfa passenger and cargo boats COM
9dhed' each capable Of carrying some
I-OyV tons, which will without the
sSHshIest doubt be given preference by
suIppers over the slower and more un-
esftsih frelghters. Their arrival in the
IslG means, therefore, that there will
W just SO much less freight for the
lamps 10 carry, and it is likely that
t %o'g OF these will retire quietly from
/ nj. re racine arena, at least for the
Jones Acts Effects
AN american shipping men in Japan, ac-
SsOtulag 20 a same publication, which
y puodlshId t Toxic, are dubious as tc
iae enects OF the enforcement of the
n.atIn aaltsrlcan merchant marine act. Es-
H. Ss''t interest, 1t Is stated, is taken in
1 ~, y provisions granting preferential
NJ rates on goods carried in American
g., me immediate results" it is stated
M, rte EVIDENT, namely, that shippers can
j pas;S. Ssl9Fa VI to send goods to American
vbon bn'' coast ports by foreign bottoms
| Ams,ida'y rivals may send their goods by
| jo.can bottoms and thus derive the
a6n'age ca OF the railway rebate.
| Obv;on.TSnat in mat run" it is added, sit is
/ h,ISusly aIy impossible for foreign lines
4 ovo S'Sofo the rebate by lowering theil
i,s;., ra rates accordingly, as the raj
seasa.ht ss@. ta'e Is so much higher than the
,aSap ,saa'hip charge that what is, for in.
a aase, but 20 per cent in the case Of
d 0iher nas may become something like
/ sroo esi cent of the latter. Furthermore
1 spv ~ =, rates are at present so low tha'
4 ,yeent Material reduction cannot be made