Evening star., 1934-01-10

Reports on foreign trade for the
greater part of the year just concluded
are interpreted by the country as tangi-
Bile evidence Of the progress toward re-
coveTy. 1t is felt that increases in both
exports and imports have bearing on
the country's business conditions, the
former because of growing markets, and
the latter as incidental to the healthy
demands of American industry.
There seems to be no doubt that
our badly depressed foreign trade is
beginning to revive" says the Kansas
City Star while uttering the warning:
1T Is wise to be cautious in ascribing
reasons for this improvement. The de-
probation Of the dollar undoubtedly
has been a factor, but since imports
have risen in value as well as exports
although in theory they should have
decreased as a result of the dollars
depreciation-it is evident that the
monetary situation could not have been
the sole factor by any means. Indeed.
in view Of improving conditions gen.
orally throughout the world there are
grounds for assuming that the increase
in our foreign trade IS part OF an in
ternational trade revival. If that as
whether 1t would not be wise public
policy on the part of every country to
begin to stimulate the process OF i'm
provement by taking effective steps at
once to lower existing trade barriers
along the lines indicated in Secretary
Hulrs recent proposal for such action
at the Seventh Pan-American Confer
ence, in Montevideo."
What Is particularly interesting, and
perhaps unusually significant" accord
ing to the Oakland Tribune, 'is that
decision has been reached by the ex-
perts who are advising the admins
tration that the time Is now ripe Tor a
vigorous campaign to enlarge foreign
trade. Congress will be asked to sup
ply new agencies and funds and there
will be a reorganization in certain de-
partments. The period during which
1t had been reasoned that it was not
worth while to spend great efforts on
the business with other nations. 1t Is
declared. has passed"
In a discussion of increased japanese
trade, the Philadelphia Evening Bulle-
tin finds that "the United States
shared In the profits. Of japanese pros
perity, that country buying more in
the United States than In any other
country" The Bulletin adds: "Of the
Japanese imports 31.9 per cent came
from this country, which took in turn
27.3 per cent Of Nippon exports. The
balance Of trade was in our favor. Even
Japan's trade war with Great Britain
Injured to American advantage. leading
as 1t did to increased takings of Ameri-
can cotton and other commodities. Fig
ures for the first nine months of the
current year show that Japan is fourth
in the list of customers Of this country
arranged in the order Of the value of
the exports to them; Japan took Amer
lean goods worth $91 .295 900, represent
ing 8.3 per cent of our exports for the
period. Japan stood second in the list
OF countries from which the United
States purchased, our imports amount
ing in value to $91, 1885, 900 for the
nine months, according to the figures
compiled by the United States Cham
ber Of Commerce. The Toxic figures
for the entire year show balance Of
trade in favor of the United States of
90, ,000, 900 yen, or about $45 1000, 900 at
the old gold parity Of the yen."
Quoting other figures Of the United
States Chamber Of Commerce, the
YOUNGSTOWN Vindicator emphasizes the
facts appearing In broad field: "Pur-
chases Of merchandise in this country
during the first nine months of the
year by 20 foreign countries were iarg-
er than In the corresponding period
last year. Fourteen Of the countries
which increased their buying here are
In the Western Hemisphere, which the
report says Is an encouraging feature
of the trade improvement. It is en-
ccr~9~ ~i-g for the fact that it rc.lts