The Washington times., 1936-01-02
JAPS CAPTURE
PHILIPPINE
MARKET
Invaders UnderseII
Americans as Much
As SO Per Cent
BY KINGSBURY SMITH
Copyright. 1885. by International
News SerYIcel

Startling disclosures concerning
the extent to which American
trade Is being hit by Japan's
economic invasion Of the Philip
pine Islands are contained in
reports which have been received
by this Government from Off
cial sources in Manila,
These reports show that Japan
csc merchants, by underSelling
American goods anywhere from
10 to so per cent or more, are
capturing the Philippine markets
right and left.
Millions Invested
Not only are the Japanese
merchants taking away the Ameri-
can markets, but they are estab-
fishing their own retail shops In
the Philippines In which to sell
their own low.priced goods. They
already control IS per cent Of the
retail business In the islands while
their holdings and investments
total millions Of dollars.
The reports disclose that the
Nippon Empire decided to launch
Q systematic campaign toward
economic control Of the islands
without waiting for American
withdrawal from them, scheduled
ten years hence under the indie
pendence Act.
Report Cites Groundwork
The manner in which the cam
paign, launched three years ago,
has been pushed relentleSSly for
ward Is shown in one official re-
port, which states:
Elm 1882 the groundwork was
laid fer Q new japanese mer-
camille offensive. Freeing them
selves from dependence on Chi
nese retail outlets, japanese Inn
pOrteEs set mp branches or sub
slliary organizations In Manila,
DavaO, Cebu and IlOil0 TO Inn
port and distribute Japanese
goods. They encouraged their
own Nationals to start retail
shops I'm every city and town
aiding them with fconsig nment
ahipments ard LONG credis teYms.
ssThe connhinatton Of neat,
weIirun japanese shops and In
expensive presentable goods has
had it's effect, and now praCti-
CalIy every town has It's Japa-
nese shopping district which
rivals the older Chinese shop
ping districts in size and activ-
lty.
"Tho intenslficatiOn Of jap
anese competition Is evidenced
mot only by Philippine trade
figures but by efforts Of the
japanese to consolidate their
position"
The reports show that in almost
every instance where japan has
increased its imports American
imports have decreased.
U. 8. Cotton Lays
japanese cotton piece goods i'm
ports into the islands increased
by approximately $50 per cent in
volume during the first six months
of 1884, while American imports
Of similar goods decreased by Is
per cent.
This same situation existed dur
ing the first six months Of 1885.
Japan'S percentage Of the total
cotton piece goods trade rose by
volume to SIS per cent during the
first half Of 1885. It was %
per cent in 1888. At the same
time, the American share of the
market dropped from 81 per cent
in 1888 to 40 per cent during the
first six months of last year.
In 1888, imports of Japanese
SardineS to the islands consti-
tuted IS per cent of the total i'm
ports by volume. During the first
six months of last year, they
constituted Is per cent while the
American share of the market
dropped from n per cent in
1888 to so per cent during the
first half of 1885.
Wide Price Differences
Other markets which the Japa-
neSe merchants have been taking
away from the Yankee traders
by underSelling them include