3
500
and Swatow. In Hankow, in 1902, there were 30 coasting-vessels and 6 river-steamers sailing under the German flag. How important the Chinese service is to the largest shipping concerns, the Hamburg-American and the North German Lloyd lines, is shown by the imposing fleet of vessels in the Chinese service of both these lines. In the trans- oceanic trade with Shanghae these two Companies maintained, in 1902, 11 Imperial mail. steamers and 23 other steam-ships. In the coasting trade they had S and in the river traffic 6 steam-ships, to which must be added 24 steam-ships of other German Companies, all of which are employed in the foreign and coasting trade of Shanghae.
In Hankow, the great centre of the Chinese interior trade, the German flag was not represented in carrying freight in 1892: 15 per cent. of the total importations of that city were brought in German ships in 1902. The East Asiatic steam-boat line, subsidized by the Empire, carried 9,812 persons to the East in 1902, and on the homeward trips 10,400. The outward freight carried amounted to 181,936 tons, valued at 55,444,000 dollars, of which 94,769 tons, worth 21,705,600 dollars, went to the Orient. Of these, 64,049 tons, worth 12,709,200 dollars, were German products. In other words, 67-6 per cent, of the total tonnage and 585 per cent, of the total value were German. The return freight amounted to 87,167 tons, worth 33,955,000 dollars. Of this, 49,689 tons, valued at 8,330,000 dollars, or 57 per cent, of the total freight and 24-6 per cent. of the total value, were destined for Germany.
The German Shantung Railroad, between Tsingtau and Tsinan-fu, is finished. Over its tracks are running German locomotives and German cars, both passenger and freight. An exceedingly fine saloon car, formerly on exhibition at Düsseldorf, is used on this line. Up to November 1st, 1902, 22 locomotives, 28 passenger cars, 10 express cars, 213 freight cars, and 245 coal cars were sent out to this road. At the present time German engineers are busy with the building of a second German railroad in China. Its completion is practically secured through German capital. It is intended to unite Tien-tsin, the great commercial centre of the north, with the Yang-tsze by means of two very valuable branches penetrating still farther into the interior. For carrying out the preliminary work of this road a combination, known as the German-Chinese Railroad Company, has been formed, with an original capital of 2,380,000 dollars.
The German Shantung Mining Company is working hand in hand with the Shantung Railroad. It is producing and selling coal which, according to the testimony of experts, is destined to play an important role in the East Asiatic market. It is said to be superior to Japanese coal in heating power and to make less smoke. The market for this coal, both in the interior of Shantung and along the coast, is secured through the arrangement of cheap prices for transportation over the Shantung Railroad. Thus both of these enterprises give promise of profits and look out upon a favourable future. Previous results in the matter of mining give promise to the railroad of the profitable transportation of coal.
A second Mining Company in Tsingtau, the German Society for Mining Industrial Effort Abroad, has begun to mine in five zones in Shantung which have been conceded to it by the Chinese Government. They are working on various kinds of ores, among them gold.
If we look on the German spheres of interest outside of Shantung, we find in Shanghae, for example, two German Stock Companies, with a working capital of 238,000 dollars. These Companies are engaged in the weaving of silk and cotton goods. There are, in addition, 2,380,000 dollars of German capital engaged in cotton spinning in Shanghae, 1,500,000 dollars in selling silk, 1,500,000 dollars in flour mills, and large amounts in Agricultural Companies, banks, wharves, docks, gas-houses, &c. In numerous other places in China large sums of German capital have been invested in all kinds of industrial enterprises, although it would be hard to obtain exact figures in regard to them.
Still another picture-the German merchant in China. The old-time distinguished and well-known expert merchant, a man of industry and cleverness, supported by considerable financial means, is to be found in all important places along the coast, and in recent years in places in the interior. Shanghae alone has at least 68 large German firms, whose annual turnover amounts to 28,560,000 dollars, or 22 per cent, of the total turnover of the city of Shanghae. After Shanghae, Tien-tsin is the most germanized city in China. It has 29 large German firms working, with an active capital of 4,552,000 dollars. The Germans' part in the business of that city amounts to 60 per cent. of the total imports and 45 per cent. of the total exports. In Canton 12 German commercial houses are stationed, doing 50 per cent, of the total import and 75 per cent, of the total export business. Chefoo has 4 German firms, with a capital of 357,000 dollars; Amoy has 3 German firms, with a capital of 71,400 dollars. Of the
other Treaty ports, Swatow, Fuchow, and Hankow are domiciles of large German firms. Germany's share in the imports of Hankow is placed at 2,850,000 dollars, and her share in exports at 700,000 dollars to 900,000 dollars.
The trade with China has made it necessary to establish a German Asiatic Bank, with its principal quarters at Shanghae and branch houses in Tien-tsin, Peking, Hong Kong Tsingtau, and Hankow, This bank declared dividends in 1902 of 9 per cent., and for this year there is every prospect for a favourable dividend.
In
Is China important for its imports of German wares? Germany's foreign trade statistics put China with Macao and Hong Kong and Kino-chau by themselves. the year 1902 goods worth 9,020,200 dollars were exported to China, including Macao, from Germany. Almost every important branch of German industry is represented in these exports.
Aniline dyes Needles Woollen wares Passementerie
Fine iron wares
Beer
Coarse iron wares
Whollen yarn
Sugar
PRINCIPAL Exports from Germany to China in 1902.
Articles.
Cotton goods (hosiery) Indigo Brass wares
Articles.
Value,
Value.
Dollars.
Dollars.
1,547,000
Wares made of precious metals
119,000
1,237,600
Iron bars
95,200
642,600
Clocks
95,200
571,200
Machinery
95,200
95,200
95.200
261,800 Copper
71,400
261,800 Cotton tissues
71,400
142.800
Cotton trimmings
71,400
142,800 142,800 110,000
Spun silk
71.400
Raw sugar
71,400
476,000
Mercury..
285,000 Nickel
During the same year German exports to Hong Kong amounted to 952,000 dollars; and to the Protectorate of Kaio-chan to 1,642,200 dollars. This is by no means an exact picture of our trade in China; it deals only with our direct exports thereto, to which should be added our indirect exports, but, unfortunately, these cannot be reduced to figures.
German Outlook in the Orient.
In the foregoing we have given some data worth consideration. Although they do not exhaust the question, they show that German interests in the East deserve attention. But it is not by the conditions of yesterday or to-day, measured by figures, that we are to indicate the vast prospects which await the Germans in China and in the Chinese market. The entire situation in the world's market, the signs of the times, the great competitions of the people, rapidly assuming other forms thau they have hitherto had, must be placed in the equation.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Jamieson with regard to the Statements contained in the Publication of the Central Union for the Preparation of Trade Treaties, Berlin, on the Subject of Germany's Interests in China.
(Confidential.)
THE publication under review is confessedly an attempt to persuade the Little- Germans, who are somewhat weary of costly non-productive over-sea possessions, of the rich harvest the German manufacturer may expect to reap in China, and of the great part German shipping plays in Far Eastern waters. It is, therefore, only to be expected that, in describing "das, was Deutsche Männerkraft im Osten geschaffen und errungen bat," to borrow one of the grandiloquent phrases recently used by a speaker on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of some German building, there should be no lack of self-glorification, or that, in painting the picture of the future which awaits
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