OCR Text |
Show JAPAN'S TRADE. The Japanese customs authorities have compiled the figures of Japan 's foreign trade for the six months ended June 30, of this year. There were heavy increases in both exports and imports of merchandise, . but the excess ex-cess of the former over the latter was nearly $45,000,000. Exports to the United States increased more than $32,-000,000, $32,-000,000, while the imports from this country show an increase of only $1S,-000,000. $1S,-000,000. The United States was first in order of importance in both the export ex-port and import trade of Japan. For some years the Japanese have been making strenuous endeavors to manufacture manu-facture pretty much everything needed nt home. The figures show that they have been in a large measure successful success-ful and that they have entered the foreign for-eign field with their surplus. The European Eu-ropean war furnished the desired opportunity op-portunity and tho Japanese were not slow to take advantage of it. The United States profited in the same way to a much greater extent. Both countries coun-tries have been selling vast quantities of munitions of war to the belligerents as well as foodstuffs and ordinary articles ar-ticles of merchand ise. The sale of mu- I nit ions will stop, with the war and win-petition win-petition will be keen in other directions, direc-tions, but we should he able to hold our own in tho foreign field, so far as the Japanese are concerned, if the home market is sufficiently protected. |