The Washington times., 1922-06-24
JAPAN'S TRADE
OUTLOOK bad,
SAYS REPORT
Wages Higher Than Ever and
Prices Remain at War
Level.
~ I.tsrnatieaai News service.

v
TOKYO. June 2s.--The outlook for
business in Japan continues dis
quisting," according to the annual re-
port Of i. Bielrart, chairman Of the
Tokyo.Yokohana foreign board OF
trade. The year has not been 10 bad
az was anticipated, he pointed out:
the volume OF business was smaller,
but with fewer claims on account Of
exports and bstter deliveries OF Inn
ports.
In most countries considerable de.
clines In values have followed the
war boom, and wages have been
dfastically cut. hut In Japan the
contrary exists: wages In most cases
are higher than ever. and there is
no tendency TO lower the cost of
living. while Japanese goods are gem
orally Of q very inferior quality.
Biclxart condemned disturbed Ia
Dor conditions. the spirit Of gam
bling, the governments policy Of,
trying to maintain high prices. the
work OF customs officials and the In.
efficiency Of the postal departmetS
as adverse factors which firms doing
business have to contend with.
e Gambling Condemned.
Among the adverse conditions ID
the spirit OF gambling, which to q
considerable extent has been encour-
aged by the uitrarprotectionist policy
pursued by the Japanese government
and seriously. fnterferes with the
II o striking instance Of what 10
transaction Of legitimate business"
he declared in his report. The
manipulation Of the raw silk fnarlet
possfble when the government De.
cides that the price Of any article n
to be maintained on an artificial
level. The law Of supply and DE-
msnd is not permitted to govern the
regulation Of values.
"The government officials are
clamoring loudly for the putting
forth Of all possible efforts 10 revive
the export trade, which has fallen
Off TO serious sxtent. A q means
to this end they advocate lower cost
lof production and batter workman
ship: but to what extent DO they as
sist in the attainment Of this degirar
BILE result? Their policy has general
" been directed 70 the maintenance
Of prices at q level which will save
from loss those gamblers and
profiteers who were not able TO dis
pose Of their holdings when TIE
crash came In 1890. 49,
Tariff Considered.
Calls for upward revisions OF the
customs tariff have been gympa-
theticaIly considered. and combine
lions OF manufacturers. with the eb-
Jest Of restraining output and main.
tanning prices, have received Gffi-
cial support In many instances.
When We find the Government %
actively interested In preventing any
decline In probability OF an; early re-
coyery Of prices Il II excusabIe 10.
lose faith In those foreign markets
into which japanese goods. penetra-
ted during the war period and
which markets are now being recov-
cred by their former suppliers--
America, England, and Germany.
Manufacturers appear TO find It
impossible to realize that the excep.
tionai advantages which they on
joyed during the war exist no long
er and to grasp the fundamental
their business methods can they
hope to retain. any OF, the ground
gained during the boom period.
'sThe lure Of large profits still oh.
sesses them. The idea OF working
for reasonable profit 10 repugnant
to their minds. Until there is radical
alteration In this respect the future
can hold but little hope.
"The total trade Of Japan the last
year was Y2,Ss6.ss2, ,547. decrease
OF Y1.417,576.s45. or nearly 80 per
cent. Exports amounted to Y1,l52.-
s37,715, or ~ per cent OF the whole.
while imports. totaled Y1.s14,154,.
832, or Sc per cent OF the whole. Ex.
ports fell Off Y6s6. 6.55e.S96,, q drop Of
aS per cent from the 1890 figures,
about 90 per cent" t#a..