(iii) Chile During the war the exports of Chile declined slightly and then rose. However, the imports declined to a much greater degree. The excess of exports increased. A comparison of the figures for 1913 and 1917 indicates a very large increase in the exports of raw materials and a decline in the imports of manufactured goods. The exports of products of the mines rose from 366 million pesos to 681 million pesos. The currents of trade turned away from Europe toward the American continent. A comparison of the returns in 1913 and 1917 indicates a decline in imports from the United Kingdom from 30 per cent to 18 per cent, from Germany from 25 per cent to nothing and a decline in exports to the United Kingdom from 39 per cent to 22 per cent and to Germany from 21 per cent to nothing. On the other hand, the imports from the United States rose from 17 per cent to 49 per cent and the exports to the United States rose from 21 per cent to 60 per cent. The trade with Argentina and Peru and the South American countries in general increased. Imports from Peru rose from 4 per cent to 10 Statistical Abstract of the Republic of Chile, 1918, and Anuario Estadístico de la República de Chile, 1917. 8 per cent of Chile's total. The trade with the Far East likewise increased. Exports to Japan were five times as great in 1917 as in 1910. Exports to Australia rose from nothing to 4,000,000 pesos. When the international jobbers were eliminated, Chile traded direct with the Far East. D. The Far East (i) British India During the war the trade of India declined. Communication with Europe was difficult and India's customers were less accessible. However, the transshipment of goods increased almost 100 per cent from 1913 to 1918. The exports of merchandise originating in the British Empire and in foreign countries, to other foreign countries and parts of the British Empire increased from 3,000,000 pounds sterling in 1913 to 6,000,000 in 1918. As the transshipment trade of Great Britain declined, that of British India rose. The totals for the fiscal years ending March 31 were: 1914, £3,100,000; 1915, £2,700,000; 1916, £3,200,000; 1917, £5,400,000, and 1918, £6,100,000. FOREIGN TRADE OF BRITISH INDIA 11 (Figures in million pounds sterling; 000,000 omitted) "Annual Statement of the Sea-Borne Trade of British India for the Fiscal Years ending March, 1913-1918. In comparing the fiscal years 1914 and 1918, one notes a relative increase of imports of raw materials and a decrease of the imports of manufactures. On the other hand, there were a relative decrease in the exports of raw materials and an increase in the exports of manufactured goods. The development of industries in India was accelerated by the war. There was a relative decrease in the value of imports from Europe, except from the minor countries which had traded through Germany. For example, the imports from Norway, Sweden, and Spain increased considerably. There was a compensating increase of imports from the countries skirting the Pacific Ocean, Japan, the United States, Java. Between 1913 and 1918 the imports from the United Kingdom declined from 64 per cent to 54 per cent. In 1913 and 1918 Germany supplied, respectively, 7 per cent and nothing, Japan 3 per cent and 12 per cent, the United States 3 per cent and 8 per cent. The exports of domestic goods to continental Europe declined but exports to the British possessions, to Japan, and to the United States increased greatly. The exports to Great Britain increased slightly. In 1913 and 1918, respectively, France took 7 per cent and 4 per cent, Germany took 11 per cent and nothing. On the other hand, the British possessions took 14 per cent and 27 per cent, the United States took 9 per cent and 13 per cent, and Japan took 9 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, in 1913 and 1918. Trade with the nearby countries increased. Trade with the international jobbing countries decreased. (ii) Australia The trade of Australia declined in value during the war except for the exports in the fiscal year 1917. However, the imports declined more than the exports. FOREIGN TRADE OF AUSTRALIA 12 (Figures in million pounds sterling; 000,000 omitted) As in the case of British India there was a decline in trade with continental Europe and an increase in trade with countries nearby and those skirting the Pacific Ocean. The imports from the United Kingdom declined from 60 per cent in the calendar year 1913 to 52 per cent in the fiscal year 1917. The imports from Belgium and from Germany were eliminated. On the other hand, the imports from the United States rose in value from 12 per cent in 1913 to 20 per cent in 1917. The imports from India rose from under 4 per cent to 5 per cent and the imports from Japan rose from 1 per cent to 4.5 per cent. The imports from Canada, Chile, British South Africa, and Java increased. The exports to the United Kingdom rose from 50 per cent in 1913 to 59 per cent in 1917. But the exports to France declined from 12 per cent to 4 per cent. On the other hand, there was an increase of exports to the United States from 3 per cent to 7 per cent. The exports to Canada were almost 40 times as great in 1917 as in 1913. The exports to India and to Japan doubled in the same period. Direct trade was stimulated. Trade with nearby countries increased. 12 Trade Customs and Excise Revenue of the Commonwealth of Australia for the Calendar Years 1910, 1913, and the Fiscal Years ending June 30, 1915 to 1918. Quarterly Summary of Australian Statistics, December, 1918. (iii) British South Africa The trade of British South Africa, particularly exports, declined during the war. The excess of exports before the war was replaced by an excess of imports. The shortage of shipping rendered South Africa less accessible to the trading nations. However, the transshipment trade increased for the reëxports of foreign and colonial produce, rose very rapidly during the war, from £1,000,000 in 1913, to £1,400,000 in 1915, £2,500,000 in 1916, and £3,300,000 in 1917. FOREIGN TRADE OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA 18 The great decline in exports was due to the curtailment of the shipment of gold and diamonds during the war. In 1913 over 37,000,000 pounds sterling of gold was exported and in 1917 none was exported. There was also a decline in the imports of food and of manufactures. There was a slight increase in the imports of raw materials. There was a decline in the imports from Europe and a great increase in the imports from the non-European countries. The 13 Annual Statement of Trade and Shipping of the Union of South Africa, 1911 to 1918; Trade of the Union of South Africa, December, 1918. |