Evening star., 1932-02-02
u. s. EXPORT TRADE
IS ENDANGERED
China Was Only Nation in
World to Buy More From
America in 1881.

Government officials here today ex-
pressed concern that If military activ-
ity continues in China the heavy export
trade of the United States to that
strife-torn republic might be seriously
curtailed.
China was the only country TO buy
more American goods in 1881 than In
1880, while that nation and Japan were
the only two of which exports increased
in December as compared with the
same period in 1880, according to fig
ures made available at the Commerce
Department.
The bulk of this countrys exports
to China during the past year was re-
ceiyed through the port of Shanghai,
according to the department.
Exports Valued at s97,SSS,39l.
Exports to China last year were
valued at S97888.391 as against S89,-
605,0 the year before. China bought
$13,7l3,20l worth Of American goods in
December, an increase of nearly $6,5O0,-
600 over December, 1880.
Records available at the department
for the year show China purchased
1852, 900 raw cotton bales, an increase OF
approximately 1875 per cent over 1880.
Despite the fact that China was en-
gagged in much military activity during
the last six months of the year, Off
cialS here believe that little Of this raw
material was used for munitions pur-
poses. The greater part of the ship
ments formed a part of China's great
textile expansion plan, they said.
Shanghai Has Prospered.
In purchasing $13,713,2Ol in Ameri-
can goods during the last month China
bought $2,7892 POI more goods from the
United States than 1t did during the
whole year Of 1900 During the same
period this country's trade with China
has increased from $l0,924,000 in 1900
to S97 ,888,391.
officials also pointed out that a seri-
Gus curtailment may occur in this coun-
try's grain and grain products export
to China, which in 1881, 1880 and 1929
was by far the United States best Gus
toner. Last year a total of 2073, ,397
barrels were imported, the majority re-
ceived through the port of Shanghai.
The G partment'S foodstuf division
said, howeve., that some of this -four
was sold by Pacific Coast mills as low
as $3.50 per barrel.
Just prior to the Japanese invasion
at Shanghai, Julean Arnold, the de-
partment's commercial attache in
China, reported that Shanghai at the
close Of 1881 presented but little evil
dence Of business depression. Since
recession Of the flood waters much i'm
provement in general trade also was
evident at the close Of the year in the
mid-Yangtze Valley region, according
to Arnold
The commercial attache described
business in South China as quiet at the
beginning Of the new year. However,
several large orders for American cot
ton yarn were placed in this section. he
said, replacing yarn formerly supplied
through japanese sources.
With Shanghai enjoying an indus
trial and building boom last Summer
the japanese invasion started in Man
churia. and the boycott of japanese
goods Immediately spread from South
China to this port city.
The boycott movement, to a greater
or less degree, had been in effect par
ticularly in South China since 1928 and
dates back for its origins TO the famous
81 demands made on China. The boy
colt has resulted in Chinese merchants
purchasing from the United States.
British India and other countries cot
ton goods they formerly obtained from
Japan.
Ehrhardt Sends Report.
Meantime Trade Commissioner John
J. Ehrhardt at Shanghai informed the
department that the imports Of print
ing machinery into China during the
five-year period 1925 to 1929, inclu-
sive. averaged somewhat more than
S500.00O in value annually. the peak
S846 ,000-occurring in 1929. In 1880
the value declined to $5l40O0, for which
the adverse silver exchange which rem
dered the price of imported machinery
considerably higher. when quoted in To-
cal currency was largely responsible.
Imports Of printing machinery from
the United States have shown steady
increase during this period-from
slightly less than so per cent in the
total imports in the earlier years to ap-
proXimately 10 per cent in 1880. Japan
ranks second. and Germany and the
United Kngdam third and fourth, re-
spectiVely. as sources of supply for this
class of machinery. Figures for the
year 1881 are not yet available.
More than 80 per cent Of the imports
are recorded as entered through the
port of Shanghai. Those during the
years 1929 and 1880 we're valued at
S726,953 and $458,703, respectively.