Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04
BY WALTER ROBB.

The Philippine Islands are greatly
interested in the outlook for the wheat
crop in the United States. since they
have become one Of the leading mar.
kets for American -four. now a sub
stantial part of shipments to the
islands
During the first three months of
this wear the Philippines bought
nearly $4,000 Geo pounds of wheat
flour. Of which ST per cent came from
the United States. The value was
we'll over 5 600 600 It is estimate
the islands took during this quarter
the wheat crop from 1000 acres. and
Will during the year take the product
of zoo, 600 acres. The importations fo,
the rest of the year are likely To rur
ahead of those of the first Quarter
The islands buy little -four from
Canada. only $4,000 pounds during the
quarter Canadian -four pays duty
whereas that from the United States
does not. Before American sovereignty
was established here. the flour marker
| was almost exclusively Australia :
Australian -four is still second tc
American and amounted to 1000 o0f
pounds during the three months
china s sales to the islands were about
double those of Canada; India's we're
unimportant.
Once Grew Own Wheat.
II seems strange indeed that the
Philippines once grew their owr
wheat and produced their own -four
Yet such is the fact. The change
was brought about by an interestins
set or economic circumstances inter
woven with religious preiudices and
trade jealousy. ''''
ferhaps if calleon leaving Manila
lidu not loSt It's rudder in a storm
on the China Sea and dlifted holm.
lessly upon the coast of .Ianan bjr.
tory would have been written differ.
emily In respect to -four in the Philip.
pines. as well as many other things
vitality involving the East and West
even today.
Mexico very early in the history
OF modern relations between the
East and West grew extremely
Jealous of the Manila trade. which
was in all sorts of oriental wares
spices. silks, fine cambrics and
precious stones and pearls Cargoes
were landed at Acapulco, ported
across to Vera Cruz and thence taken
across the Atlantic to Seville. Mexico
had no material part in this com.
silver and gold into the roval Golfers
at Valladolid; the Philippines were
under her administration. and so her
protest was effective. The trade of
Manila was reduced to a single gal
icon cargo a year. valued at not more
than million dollars.
mat was at the outset of the sew
enteenth century, 800 years ago.
snOla VNoto Vr-lo..urs
A practice developed of infringing
upon the royal regulations. Goods
were undervalued. and even the
Canhons Tor the arming Of the gal
icons against English and Dutch
corsairs were slowed commonly in the
hold of the ships for ballast, their
removal from deck affording more
space for goods. In this helpless con.
dition heavily laden galleon left
Cavite I'd round northern Luzon, get
into the region of the rains and make
its way to Acapulco. 1t encountered
typhoons and lost its rudder, drifting
upon the coast of a fishing village
of southern Japan. There the local
officials beached it and caused its
cargo to be unloaded and slowed
away. -
The passengers were taken ashore.
Among them were a number of friars.
Japan already knew Christianity from
the mission work of the Jesuits under
Francis Xavier, welcomed and en-.
couraged by the Emperor, Taiko -sama.
But the robed friars proved to he
disturbing element. They could
not conceal their envy of the Jesuits,
so Japan learned that among the
Christians there were warning sects,
of which the East already knew the
grave consequences.
Drunk Official Dragged.
The Japanese in unloading the gal
leon discovered the ships papers.
among them a map showing the. vast