Evening star., 1928-04-29
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Continued from First Page)
the total commerce Of France, the prob
lem takes on some interesting aspects
In 1927 about lat per cent of the total
French exports went 10 the colonies, the
value being about $3l8, 100000 The
1913 percentage was less than l3. The
colonies supplied lis per cent of the
total imports of France. their contribu-
ton having exceeded $235, 100000 nl
value last year. These figureS aroused
much comment in France because they
revealed the Importance Of the colonial
trafIic in returning favorable balance
for the total trade of France: almost
80 per cent of the excess margin OF
French exports over imports was the
result of increased sales 10 the colonies
When we consider the keen interest
Of the French government and financial
and commercial leaders generally In
the development Of favorable balance
primarily because of its repercussions
upon exchange rates and general fiscal
policy. the Importance OF this new
aspect of colonial economic possibilities
can be readily appreciated
Where Experts Went.
OF the total exports from France TO
the colonial empire in 1927, almost
exactly half COR about $50 900. .000l
went 10 Algeria, with French Indo-
China coming second with about
S43. 900 900 and Morocco third with less
than $4,000. 900. followed by TuniSia
1888 .000, ,000l and West Africa 1880. .000.-
000). As was TO be expected. the more
spectacular increases In recent years
have come in West Africa and Morocco.
where intensive exploitation programs
have been concentrated since the war.
Incidentally, this has been expedited by
the use OF German reparations mate
rial. particularly railway supplies and
equipment
On the import side as we'll Algeria
supplied nearly half the raw materials
coming to France from the colonies
last year. The total contributions of all
OF the possessions are assuming q
steadily increasing proportion of the
whole Of French purchases; I'm 1918
they supplied her with % per cent of
her entire imports whereas last year
their share as indicated above was
about lis per cent.
Public Works Started.
Much OF the outward bound traffic
from the mother country Ia the colonies
Is In the shape Of supplies for q series
OF substantial public works. notably
roads and port facilities, some of which
are Of truly formidable proportions.
Conspicuous among these is the Rraxza-
Vnle-Ocean Railroad in West Africa.
which promises to be one of the ma 1or
undertakings Of this type on the whole
continent In point Of economic signifi-
canoe. involving the construction OF a
line approximately $50 miles In extent.
which s 10 provide access to the sea
for the vast resources of the lower
Congo. Including both the French and
Belgian colonies on either side OF that
great artery Of trafnc into the Dark
Continent The budget for these prof.
ects In 1927 totaled more than $40 600, =
900, which Is 10 be exceeded slightly
In 1929.
Turning 10 the Significance nf the
French colonial trade with the United
states, II is Immediately evident that
these markets have taken on Il rapidly
increasing importance In our general ex-
pandlng export activity. In 1913 these
colonies took only about $4,000 900 OF ollr
total exports. whereas last year their
purchases were valued Just below $50 =
900 1000. There are very few parts of
the world where our trade experienced
SUCH flvefold increase during these
have nearly trebled their purchases from
na and today they form the largest of
our markets IN the French colonial EN-
pifc. with total purchases last year
slightly exceeding $4,000. 600
1heae figures represent only The direct
shipments from the United States to the
colonies there can be no doubt that q
very large trade In American goods also
finds It's way TO the empire by way Of
the mother country. The tendency
within the last few years. however. has
been for American export houses TO
seek the most direct channels for their
operations.
u. n, Contribution sh0wn.
In almost every nns Of the French
colonies We are today contributing a
larger proportion Of their total imports
than before the war, In fact, our per-
eentageA In most eases have more than
doubled This h dlla very largely 10 the
fact that IN the course OF Lbs ekplotta~
tien Of their latent resources, American
mining machinery. rnadvhulldlng equip
mert and agricultural implements.
which have been so we'll tried out IN the
detel0pment uf ulIf own Western and