Evening star., 1932-02-27
SERIOUS BACKLASH
I. SEEN IF j. s. JOINS
BOYCOTT ON JAPAN
1891 Trade 1851 ,O67 900,
Government Shows, With
Large Sales to Island.
100000 SIGNATURES
ON PETITION HERE
All But IS Per Cent of Raw Silk
Imported by This Country
Comes From Land.

Agitation fer the concurrence of the
United States in a worldwide economic
boycott against japanese goods, which
is reported to be gaining ground through
out the Nation was causing uneasiness
in Government circles here today as the
Commerce Department made public fig
ures showing that such an act would
have a tremendous back lash in the
United States export trade and in silk
manufacturing States.
A petition. bearing about 100000 sig
natures of civic leaders throughout the
country, is in circulation here, which
to some extent is modelled after the
document launched by President A.
L Iawrcnce Lowell of Harvard University,
and presented to President Hoover a
week ago.
In order to answer the reported
inquiries now being received
at the Commerce Department, officials
dealing with Far Eastern imports and
exports have compiled preliminary fig
ures of the United States trade with
Japan during 1881. This amounted to
1851, ,067000. a drop of SS2 ,543 900,
compared with the preceding year.
Balance Favors Japan.
Of this total japan exported to the
United States $205, ,399 900 and this
country shipped to Japan goods val
ued at S155, $4,000, a difference of
s49, ,731 900 in Japan's favor. OF the
total imports received from Japan 78
per cent, or S162, ,921, 900. was raw silk
An investigation into the worldwide
movement of raw silk shows that this
country receives all but Is per cent Of
its total from Japan
Raw silk comes into this country
duty free and is used in such principal
States as Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts,.
Rhode Island and elsewhere. The lat
est United States Bureau of Census fig
ures show there are 1,648 silk mills in
this country, engaging 136,978 workers.
A total OF 1853 ,022 additional workers
are employed in allied silk industries,
which would be affected by the boy
colt.
The Census Bureau places the value
of products at $3.50, 123, ,705 and the cost
of material is estimated at $436, 1872, ,406,
while the value added by manufactur-
ing is set at 1904, ,733, ,029. 5t>
Because japan controls two-thirds or
65, 1855, 900 pounds of the worlds annual
output Of silk, amounting to 99,065 900
pounds, boycott under normal condi-
tions in this trade would cause 490
Pennsylvania mills to close down,
throwing out of work 62,839 workers,
according to the Census Bureaus sta
tiStics. In New Jersey, 8l9 mills would
be closed, forcing idleness to 27,275
workers. In New York, 181 mills en-
ploying 1888 workers would be closed.
Connecticut has 35 mills and 1891
workers; Massachusetts,, 33 and 1908;
Rhode Island, 81 and $3.50. There are
So other silk mills scattered throughout
the country employing 1897.
Havoc in Two Ways.
1t was pointed out here today in Gov
ernment circles that one of the disas-
trcus features of the very effective
Chinese boycott against Japanese goods
was that it worked two ways, princi-
pally closing down japanese owned
mills in Shanghai and elsewhere oper-
ated by Chinese workers and bringing
to standstill Japanese shipping in
the Yangtze River, which altogether
threw hundreds of thousands of Chinese
cut of work.
Another point was stressed to the
effect that while this country'S doors
would be closed to japanese silk tissues,
which amounted to $2,040, 900 last year,
according to the Commerce Depart
ment's preliminary figures, and tea
valued at $3,143,000, potterieS valued at
S2,500000, crabmeat valued at S2,8T9,-
600 and camphor valued at 81 $50 600.
Japan would be bound to retaliate by
barring this country's exports, of which
she has been during the past year one
OF the United States best customers
Japan'S aid during several
months of 1881 the United States would
not have struck a favorable balance in
its international trade.
Figures just completed by the de-
partment shows in 1881 Japan bought
S79 $4,000 worth of raw cotton, or 40
per cent of this country's total cotton
exports. These shipments were made
from the States of Oklahoma. Texas
and Arkansas. With this country's sur
plus cotton piling up each year, Japan
mas taken the lead in purchases, buying
IN 1923 total of l,I01 900 bales:
$4,000 bales in 1890, and l,741 600
bales last year. The movement is re-
ported continuing heavy this year.
Other Purchases Large.
For iron and steel products Japan
paid manufacturers here last year
$1,000, ,000 petroleum products netted
5 10 100000 and almost entirely from
the Pacific Coast region her agents
bought lumber valued at S7O46 900
From the automobile centers around
Detroit Japan purchased $685., 900 in
automotlve products and from the
northeastern section of the United
states her agents bought S5,877OOO in
machinery and electrical equipment
wheat was the lowest of all items, only
SSO4, 900 worth being shipped from
Seattle to Yokohama and other ports.
with her silk imports curtailed The
United States would be placed in jeop-l
ardy OF losing its exports of silk manu-
Iactures trade, which in 1880, Accord
ing to the Commerce Departments Bu-
reau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, amounted to Sl4,341, 900. In
his trade Canada is this country's best
customer, purchasing 1896, 1000 in
goods; Union of South Africa was sec
ond with $l,550,000, and Cuba third
with $1,242,000.
The Commerce Department also has
without comment other facts
about Japan. which. would probably
play an important part should The boy
colt movement take hold here. In
1881 there were 2,715 Americans IN
nat country engaged in operating so
business and industrial undertakings
nat are either American or in which
mere Is substantial amount of Amer
can capital.
Total American investments in japan
vas placed at Sass, ,539 900, of which
1000, 900 was in missionary and phil
anthropic endeavors SCI 100000 in di-
'ect business investments; Sl61 1850
n japanese government securities; $685.
100000 in government guaranteed cor
$43,130,000 in Japanese
securities and $142, Ills, 900 in
Japanese private corporations. All of
he investments are largely conferred
n the Toxic and Yokohama districts.
nr E11ltnr Cham IA Cnanl