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printID188
Full referenceAnonymous, Chinese Press: Notes from Peking (1917)
TypeJournal article
Author(s)Anonymous
TitleChinese Press: Notes from Peking
Year1917
JournalNorth-China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette
Start page368
End page371
Date publication1917
LanguageEnglish
SubjectHistory
Keywordstrade; international; China; war; telegram; ministry; agriculture; commerce; London; crop; season; autumn; foodstuff; scarcity; flour; export; cotton; demand; market;
Abstract

Reports about a telegram received from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce aimed to develop China's international trade - especially flour and foodstuffs, taking advantage of the coming autumnal conjuncture of scarcity in the United States, textile and clothing (cotton, wool, cowhires, animal skins) that are all meeting a ready market in Europe where there is a huge demand for such goods.

International Commerce

The local Chinese officials have received a telegram from the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce forwarding a copy of a telegraphic report from Mr. Alfred Sze, Chinese Minister in London, on the good prospect now open of developing China's international trade. Mr. Sze tates that a scarcity of all kings of foodstuffs is keenly felt there and, as far as he understands, the coming autumn crops in America will mostly be below the average. Mr. Sze suggests that if we could increase ou acreage for producing foodstuffs, especially wheat, barley, etc., and turn out more flour for export abroad, we would certainly reap tremendous profit. 

Other produce, such as cotton, is so much in demand also as has never been known before. Besides, cowhires, animal skins and wool are all meeting a ready market. In short, all kinds of provisions and clothing will be wanted in Europe as long as the war continues. Merchants, industrialists and agriculturists in China would do well to take advantage of this rare opportunity to develop as much as possible their respective fields of activity, so as to meet the demands of the world market and establish a position for Chinese products in international commerce. The officials are exhorted to bring these advantageous points home to the merchants and others concerned

Note

A rare article that adopts China's viewpoint and considers the issue of China's export trade. Suggests a trend towards regional/national specialization within the world economic system. Uses major concepts and phrases that are characteristic of the new market economy that emerged after the First World War (Polanyi, 1944 (2001): 21-34): world market, to meet the demand, to meet a ready market...  Suggests that such nascent world market economy implied a cooperation between the political (officials) and business actors (merchants), as well as strong connections between local, national and global scales, based on a strong transportation and communication system (telegraphic report). Reveals Chinese efforts to adjust to the world demand and the specific rhythmic patterns of the world economic (adaptation to seasonal effects and conjoncture). Further suggests the increased interdependence of national and local economies - as China tried to take advantage of agricultural scarcity in America. Further suggests that such adjustments to the world demand might deeply reshape local systems of production - as the Chinese Minister in London suggests that Chinese producers increase the acreage devoted to foodstuffs, at the expenses of local food-producing. Last, the telegram suggests that war may not be as detrimental as we would think. 

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