Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-07
Europe's Industrial
Machine Is Slipping.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

l ny ENLD UNIV - Hhoh1Vs
The industrial revolution of more than
century ago began in England and
extended over Western Europe. Up until
the World War Europe. as q continent.
was the leading industrial region Of the
world. A fresh survey made by the
League of Nations shows that there has
been a gradual change since the armis-
tice and that Europe has lost her pre-
eminence. The development is an i'm.
pressive demonstration of world evolu-
ton, of how the processes OF change
never cease. No continent and no ma.
ton can be certain that 1t holds per-
manent tenure Of any sort of leadership,
military, political, or economic. The
scepter passes.
This change has not come about be-
cause Europe's industrial machine has
slipped backward. On the contrary, Eu-
ropes productivity has been increasing
steadily. The change has been brought
about by the circumstance that other
nations, once considered backward. have
experienced the industrial revolution in
their delayed turn with the result that
they have drawn the center Of gravity
away from Europe.
The invention Of the steam engine
in Great Britain gave that nation q
lead in the industrial revolution and
that lead was held for generations. With
the spread of the division Of labor, the
factory system, to Germany. France.
Belgium ana otner European countries,
that continent became a vast workshop,
while the United States remained pre-
dominantly an agricultural and pastoral
realm. 1t was not long, however, before
this country took the lead away from
not only Great Britain, but from any
other single country in Europe or else
where. The United States became the
greatest manufacturing nation in the
world.
After the World War this trend was
accelerated until now the United States
does from 40 to IS per cent Of all the
worlds manufacturing. 1t seems an in
credible thing that a nations having
but one-sixteenth Of the worlds popu-
lation should do well-nigh half Of its
manufacturing, but the League Of Ma
tions reports that to be the case. The
fact that this country makes and sells
more automobiles than all other nations
of the world combined illustrates the
position. Germany. Great Britain and
France come next, but the largest manu-
featuring country among those produces
only aSout one fourth the output here.
But the United States alone has not
been responsible for the reinforcement
Of Europe as the worlds workshop. The
rise of other nations has been notable
also. Russia, the Soviet Union, can be
classed as only partially European. espe-
cially since many of the new industrial
developments of that vast land have
been located east of the Urals and that
means they are in Asia. Under the
Cars, Russia did scarcely any manu-
featuring. There were some textile mills
in Russian Poland and some factories
in White Russia. but, in general, agri-
cultural and pastoral pursuits occupied
the people. In the last 10 years Russia
has increased her output Of manufac.
lures by more than $50 per cent.
At one time it was thought that Russia
would prove a huge market for Amer
lean manufactures and during the first
years of the Soviet Union purchases of
American manufactures were large.
Recognition of Russia came about large
~ because many persons in authority
thought that open diplomatic relations
would unlock the doors of a wide mar
ket for American goods. The idea was
mistaken. About the time Russia was
recognized she had imported about all
the American machinery she needed and
had learned American manufacturing
methods. She had become a great man.
ufacturing power herself and is steadily
increasing her output. There is no large
Russian market for American goods and,
presumably, never will be.
Japan, for so long hermit country.
with none but small hand manufactures.
has taken rank with the large indus
trialists. In the last 10 years her indus
trial output has nearly doubled. In some
lines it has increased thousandfold.
Japan used to import all her automo.
bile tires, chiefly from the United States.
In just five years she reversed that
situation and now exports tires not only
to the United States, but to European
and other countries. Japan used to buy
enormous quantities of cotton goods
from the United States. Great Britain
and European continental countries.
Now she is selling to all Of them.
One of the amazing developments has
been that of India. That broad, pop
ulous land which for so many centuries
slumbered in its sunshine and through
its rains, alternately raising grain and
enduring famines. now bears high rank
among the industrial countries of the
world. Instead of being a country fur
niShing vast market for the manu-
featured wares of Western Europe. India
has become an industrial state herself
and not only supplies much Of the
needs of her own people, but exports
abroad.
That the East is rapidly rising in in
dustrial importance is a fact that can
not be blinked, no matter how little
Western Europe likes to see its leader.
ship dwindle. In 1913 Japan produced
100000 tons Of pig iron-always Q fair
index of industrial production. The
latest figure is 100000 tons. In the
same period her cotton textile output
rose from $4,000 tons to $4,000 tons.
In the last 20 years the number Of
her factories, on the Western factory
model, has increased from $1,000 to 85,-
ITS. The number Of operatives has
climbed from 9lo,8O0 to 2,370.000.
In 1915 production Of pig iron In
India amounted to 10000 TONS while
the latest figure is 1.70O, 900 tons. Pro-
duction of cotton twist and yarn rose
from 682, SOC, 900 pounds to 1884. 000, 900
pounds in the same period. In the days
Of the Old East India Co.. nothing ever
came out Of that land save the rarjties
Of the East Now nearly one-quarter of
midas exports consist of modern manu-