States and these countries was one of the most patriotic ambitions of the late Mr. Blaine, and a proof of his foresight. Equally important is the establishment of numerous lines of American steamships to connect our ports with those of every South and Central American country.

The Germans, too, wisely look to their navy to aid them in gaining these rich markets. That trade follows the flag, many recent incidents have proved. The Germans realize the importance of a navy

in connection with foreign trade.

WEIMAR, March 2, 1898.

THOS. EWING MOORE,
Commercial Agent.

CONCESSIONS TO GERMANS IN CHINA.

*

I inclose an extract from the Shanghai Gazette, giving what purports to be details of concessions granted to Germany for building the railway from Tsingtao (Kyao Chao) to the capital (Chinan-fu), and for controlling the mineral field along the route. A description of the route and of the capabilities of the country I have already sent.' I need only say that if the statements contained in this extract prove true, we will be debarred from entering into what is really the flower of Shantung. Its effect upon our commerce, which is now increasing by leaps and bounds, will be disastrous.

A German post-office was opened February 1 in Kyao Chao.

CHEFOO, February 7, 1898.

JOHN FOWLER,

Consul.

THE GERMAN PLANS AT KYAO CHAO.

[From the Shanghai Gazette, January 31, 1898.]

We learn from Peking that the Chinese Government has consented to the Germans constructing a railway through Shantung on the following conditions:

Only German and Chinese Mining rights to be granted

The line to run first from Kyao Chao to Chinan-fu. subjects to be permitted to hold shares in the railway. to the railway company to work mineral deposits for 3 miles on each side of the railway. Only German engineers to be employed on the railway and in opening up the mines. Chinese vessels, both men-of-war and trading, are to be permitted to have the free use of Kyao Chao harbor. The foregoing arrangement is not to be embodied in any treaty or convention, but will be contained in diplomatic notes to be exchanged between the German and Chinese Governments.

We understand that the Hongkong firm, Messrs. F. Jebsen & Co., intend to start a fortnightly service of steamers from Shanghai to Kyao Chao, running in conjunction with the vessels of the North German Lloyd and the Hamburg Atlantic Company.

*See CONSULAR Reports No. 209 (February, 1898), p. 221, and No. 210 (March, 1898), p. 344.

UNITED STATES TRADE IN SOUTH AMERICA.

The abundant correspondence of an inquiring character from the trade generally in the United States makes the inclosed article from the Herald of Buenos Ayres, of March 1, of interest; conditions being the same in Uruguay as in the Argentine Republic.

MONTEVIDEO, March 4, 1898.

ALBERT W. SWALM,

Consul.

THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH AMERICA.

There have been several commissions and many representatives of commercial houses in the United States who have come here for the purpose of seeing what could be done to increase business between the two countries. In the United States there have been conventions with delegates from various South American states, who have been taken all over that country, and shown all its business and manufacturing, to see what could be done in the way of supplying the wants of trade in this continent. All this would lead one to infer that the business men of that country are looking for a way to enter these markets and compete with European houses; otherwise all this has been sheer folly and waste. No one can for a moment question the right of the manufacturers and merchants of that country to remain at home with their business any more than their right to go outside, if possible; but we repeat that we have a right to assume that all these efforts justify the inference that they would like to enter the South American market, and on this assumption we have a few suggestions to make. So far as we have been able to judge of the effect of these efforts, they have failed utterly, for the reason that they have not been followed up with prosaic arrangements for the doing of the business sought. Many have asked why it is that with all this fuss and show so little has come of it.

The answer is not difficult. There has been and there is a profound ignorance of this country and market which will quite explain the failure. A commission traveling as guests for a few days can not, in the nature of the case, get to understand the conditions of business, and those who remain at home are enveloped in such dense ignorance that nothing can penetrate it. Many a man has come and been impressed with what he has seen, and has been enthusiastic over the thought that he could dissipate the ignorance which he knew to exist regarding the country and its trade; but one after another has gone home and failed to accomplish anything. The other day we were talking to a gentleman who has just returned from a visit to the United States, who, when he started, had his head and his bag full of schemes which he felt certain he would carry through if he could but get to talk with the business men there; and now he says they do not know anything about this country at all-whether Argentina is in Brazil, or Brazil is in Argentina, or whether both are in Peru; and they have not the slightest conception of business conditions here, nor have they any thought that they have to conform to these conditions if they would come here as exporters. This is undoubtedly a fact.

A gentleman informed us not long since that he negotiated a very large order with a representative from the United States, and, after prices had been agreed

upon, there came up the question of terms, when the buyer asked the usual conditions of all business done with European houses, but these were not acceptable. There was no question of responsibility or security, for these were confessedly as undoubted as a business transaction could be; but the terms were not such as the merchant in the United States had been accustomed to, and so the business fell through. We asked a large paper importer and dealer why he did not get some classes of paper from the United States, and he replied that he could not do it and enter into competition with European importations because of the exigencies of the terms of the American exporter. There is not an importer in this country who has ever made the experiment but will confess that these difficulties have met him at every effort to import from the United States, so that no one here thinks of doing so, except for articles which can not be got elsewhere. The exporter in the United States will have either to conform to the business conditions of this market, change them to suit himself, or keep out of it. It is for him to decide which will be easiest to be done.

We have 700,000 people in this city alone, with great business houses connecting it with all the mercantile markets of Europe, and it is for the American exporter to decide whether it is worth while to attempt to change the commercial customs of the market or whether he will conform to them, or drop the matter and say no more about it. The brass-band demonstrations of itinerant commissions with nothing else behind them are the laughing stock of the market, and the profound ignorance of American trades regarding this market is a standing source of amusement. As illustrating this point, we may remark that during this month we notice the sale of a bull and two rams at one of the two largest stock-auction firms of the city. They were sent out here on consignment by those who have not the most remote notion of the necessities or conditions of the breeding-stock market, and the result was that the animals brought considerably less in paper money than their invoice price in gold, the reason being that they were far below the grade of animals sought, and far below the grade of those which are here on sale from the best cabañas of England, France, and Germany, and below the grade of native stock, which has been brought up to a high standard. The shippers did not know this, and probably they can not be made to believe it, but it is nevertheless true.

There is no possible hope for American trade which does not recognize the necessity of an accurate knowledge of the market and a disposition to accede to the usual conditions of trade. We do not intend to enter into a discussion as to whether they are wise, safe, or the best, as that is a matter for those interested to decide for themselves; but we do insist that American merchants must learn the market and conform to its conditions or they must keep out of it. We hear of projected schemes for exhibiting what Americans can do; but they are not practical, for the reason that this market knows far better what the Americans can do here than they know themselves, and the educational work necessary is not here but there. Though it may wound the vanity of American merchants, we nevertheless venture the opinion that Buenos Ayers merchants know vastly more about the United States and what can be done than Americans know of us here; hence the necessity of educating our friends. Business can be done on a large scale with that country whenever it will meet the conditions of this market and those of the exporters from Europe, and not before, and no exhibition or itinerant commission will change these stubborn facts and conditions.

NOTES.

Trade Conditions in Ghent.-Consul Morris writes from Ghent, March 10, 1898:

Under date of May 4, 1897, I forwarded to the Department the translation of a list of interrogatories* propounded by a committee of inquiry to retailers in the city of Ghent, with a view to determine the reasons of prevailing distress in trade and to inaugurate, if possible, some remedy. The replies to these questions, after collection and classification, have just been published. This report shows that

of the 4,650 lists of interrogatories distributed, 4,448 were returned to the committee, 870 persons (or 19.55 per cent) did not reply, and 268 indicated simply their commercial situation. There were then 25.57 per cent of the bulletins without value. the replies indicates the following results:

Description.

Complaints against overproduction......

Complaints against the falsification of food products......

A recapitulation of

Complaints against the law concerning the inspection of food products..

Belgian Strikes in 1897.—Under date of March 10, 1898, Consul Morris, of Ghent, says:

Advance statistics for 1897 indicate that there were in that year 965 strikes in Belgium, involving a total of 233,000 workmen.

*See CONSULAR REPORTS No. 203 (August, 1897), p. 551.

The

number of strikers was less than for any one of the seven preceding years, 1896 excepted. The number of days of work lost was, however, greater than for the four previous years, being 10,400,000, of which more than half were attributable to the engineers' great strike. The number of strikers interested did not amount to one-fourth of those engaged in the miners' great strike of 1893. Only 23 out of the 965 involved more than 1,000 workmen each, while 497 had at least 50 participants. Of the 936 strikes terminated, those ending in favor of the workmen included 30.5 per cent of the total number of the strikers; those concluded in favor of the employers comprised 20 per cent of the strikers. The other strikes were compromised. Metallurgical and building trades have been the most affected, with 100,500 strikers; then came mines and quarries, with 49,000 strikers; and then the textile industry with 37,250 strikers. On the question of wages there were fewer strikers than during the preceding year (96,000, instead of 115,817), but for a reduction of the hours of labor there were many more (57,000, instead of 3,658).

Antique Furniture in France.-Under date of February 21, 1898, Consul Skinner writes from Marseilles in reference to a law dealing with curio and old furniture merchants, promulgated on February 15, 1898, a knowledge of which, he says, may be of service to the many Americans who visit France with the expectation of buying articles of the above description, possessing artistic or historic value. The consul continues:

The vital feature of the law is the obligation now resting upon all brokers, dealers in old furniture, linen, clothes, jewels, books, dishes, arms, and other objects to keep an official register, signed by the commissaire of police or the mayor, containing "day by day, without blanks or erasures, the name, surname, character, and dwelling of those with whom said broker has contracted; also, the nature, quality, and price of all said merchandise; and said register must be forthcoming on demand." Penalties are prescribed for violation of the foregoing provision, the purpose of which is to prevent fraud in the exchange of old and secondhand goods, especially such as are sought by collectors.

Imports of Wheat at Marseilles.-Consul Skinner writes from Marseilles, under date of March 3, 1898:

The imports of wheat received at Marseilles, France, from ports in the United States during the months of January and February, 1898, show a total of 971,216 bushels of 60 pounds, against none