dune 18, With the arrival in Shanghai as Finance] of the full report of the British Economic Mission, many extracts from which have already been published, it is possible to cure a full appreciation of the admirable work its members have done in tackling difficult. and elusive problems. And when the descriptions of trade conditions contained in the report and the conclusions reached are given consideration, there is certain to be regret that such a Mission was not sent to the Fax East many years ago. There is the significant fact that the volume of British exports to China in 1929 was of practically the same sterling value as those of.1913, and in the intervening period it must have been obvious to the authorities at Home that. British trade was not expanding in proportion to that of other, countries doing business with China. Until now, however, no comprehensive investigation hag been set on foot to find the causes and remedies, and this is hardly a satisfactory state of affairs. Of course it would be unfair to blame altogether the various governments which have been in office in Britain during these years, for there was the pre-occupation of the War and thereafter the tremendous pro= blems of re-construction follow= ing. As early, however, as 1918 a note of warning hod been sounded in the columns of the North-China Daily News" by 2 local engineer, subsequent to which articles ' were published showing the far-sighted and painstaking methods of German manufacturers, then the severest competitors of British firms. Local representatives of English firms had also drawn attention to the dangers threatening theitt special branches of trade until they became tired of doing 80, too many- cases their suggestions were ignored. One can see that a" very different tate of affairs might have prevailed had such recommenda tions been backed by a Mission such as Sir Ernest Thompson's whose views will certainly carry authority at Home. The great hope now is that practical effect will be given to the Mission's representations and equally to the suggestions which Shanghai representatives have made for the betterment of the British import trade, Some ten years ago an Ameri~ can Trade" Commissioner was asked to ascertain why there was such a vogue for British biscuits in Constantinople and to learn the methods of market~ ing and "pushing" cular, article, trade report gave details of the matter, and the Commissioner in question was terse in his comments. In effect he said that there were no marketing methods—that the biscuits simply sold themselves. It is apposite to refer to this case to-day because of the long established belief at Home that British goods can variably do so, a theory much cherished in the' past but which has not found much acceptance among the hard-hit representatives in markets such as these in the Far East. As a matter of fact the Economic Mission does away with the suggestion that local merchants are under any: illusion that British goods can sell themselves, and it is pointed out that in distribution methods there is little to choose between
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.