The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-20
War Shipments
to Japan


HOW far the American government and AmeFs
AAican capitalists are helping the japanese govs
eminent by shipping war supplies to the latter
was the question that arose in the minds OF
workers who read in the papers a few days ago
that representatives Of the I. du PonG dc
Nemours & Co. had been in conference with
high state department officials on private buSao
ness" connected with the sale Of munitions ia
the Orient. 1t is difficult to secure full infora-
ton on this subject, especially as the exporters
now fear agitation for embargo legislation Of
one sort or another. But such information 90
the United States Department of Commerce 10
willing to make public indicates g. considerable
export Of war materials and potential war SUPP
plies from this country to help Japanese inn
perialisn prepare for its attack on the Soviet
Union.
Raw cotton, as is wen known, is used in the
manufacture Of explosives. How much OF the
japanese imports from this country are for this
purpose and how much are for the normal needs
OF textile mills 1t is difficult to say. But the
fact is that in the year 1880 Japan imported
only $4,000 bales from the United States, while
IN 1881 1t imported 1,741OoO bales OF raw cotton
or over twice as much as in the previous year.
And Of the 1881 total some l,069O0O bales were
purchased in the last six months OF the yeaSo
compared with 100000 bales during the same
period in $780,
Cottons most useful in the manufacture OF
guncotton are the sshort fibres called NnterS
Recent tabulatuions Of the U. S. Department OF
Commerce show that Japan bought S08433G
pounds Of linters in 1881 and 500346 in January
1882 nj other words, January showed doubling
OF the monthly rate Of linterS purchased in tbs
United States by Japan as compared with 1881.
Exports Of "other heterogeneous chemicals ma
terials from the United States to Japan during
1881 amounted to only 1000 tons, valued at
$52,354. Yet for the one month Of January, 1889.
an almost equal amount was shipped to Japan,
or 1900 tons valued al s51,542. The shipments
in January were thus at rate nearly IL times
the monthly rate for last year.
One Of the largest shippers Of heterogeneous
products to Japan, as well as to France-Japan's
ally-is the Atmospheric Nitrogen Corp. OF Hope
well, Virginia, the plant having been built during
the last imperialst war to supply this country
and its allies with these indispensable war sups
plies Atmospheric Nitrogen Corp. is subsidiary
Of the Allied Chemical & Dye Corp. one Of the
largest chemical companies in the world. Jap-
anese vessels are leaving frequently from New
port News, carrying cargoes of nitrate Of soda to
japanese and French ports The principal way
use Of nitrate of soda is for the production of
nitric acid which, according to g. government
report, SIS used in mixture Of 80 per cent nitric
acid and 70 per cent sulphuric acid for the
nitrating process in the manufacture of powder
and explosives Bleached cotton Iinters are
nitrated with this mixed acid to produce nitro
cellulose powder, which is the chief propelant
Toluol is nitrated to produce r. N. T., phenal
to produce picric acid and so on"
During 1881 the United States exported to
Japan sl47,212 worth of firearms, ammunition
and aircraft and parts, and during January 1882
alone over $4,000 worth. Reports on shipments
for later months Of the current year viii ldollbt-
less show rise, although the United States does
not normally supply Japan with large pers
centage OF its imports of munitions and fire.
arms Germany, Great Britain and Belgium
supplied SO per cent of Japans munitions imports
in 1880. winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New
Haven, Conn. and Remington Arms Co. OF
Bridgeport, Conn, recently took on more workers
tbruptly TO turn out orders apparently for war
purposes, although 1t Is not reported definitely
that the materials are going to Japan.
During 1881 the United States exported ma
chinery and elecrtic equipment valued at So
$4,000 to Japan, iron and steel products valued
at over 100000 automotive proaucts valued at
S88S2,0o0, and petroleum values at $16,30o,0oOO
in addition to nearly $9O,oOO,O0o worth Of cotton
A correspondent in Houston Texas, reports
that cotton shipments to Japan have doubled
during the last three months and that Japanese
ships loaded with cotton, as well as various raw
materials used in war, are leaving almost daily
bound for Japan
fall more heavily on the lower paid civil service