— 9 — 



needless formalities, wasting much time and expense, even to firms 

 who make a point of only supplying unobjectionable goods. It is to 

 be hoped that in this respect a definite improvement may soon be 

 effected. 



Chile is gradually recovering from the heavy blows from which 

 it suffered last year. In many cases Europe showed an accommodating 

 spirit by allowing prolongations, thus offering to most firms a possibility 

 of overcoming the disaster. 



The relations with Central America call for no comment. 



In our last Report we gave expression to certain fears that the 

 increase in the duties would tend to restrict trade with Japan, but 

 we are now able to state with satisfaction that also during the past 

 months an exceptionally brisk export of our manufactures to this 

 important market has taken place. Moreover, the Japanese importers 

 have, in the interest of the growing soap industry, energetically opposed 

 the increase in the duties on our articles which amounted to 10 — 2O°/ , 

 and they have obtained the concession from the Government, that 

 the duties on all oils and perfumes employed in the above-mentioned 

 branch of industry are now considerably reduced. The stimulating 

 effect of this measure on the trade already makes itself distinctly felt. 

 The turn of the Japanese for strong perfumes is, for the rest, of great 

 advantage to the sale of essential oils and artifical perfumes. 



A disagreeable surprise has been sprung upon the exporters of 

 pharmaceutical products, by the fact that the Japanese Home Office 

 has issued an order anticipating the date up to which pharmaceutical 

 preparations which answer the requirements of the old (II) Japanese 

 Pharmacopoeia are admitted for testing by the Government Laboratory, 

 and has fixed it, contrary to what had previously been determined, at 

 June 30, 1907. This curtailment of the period (originally extended to 

 December 31, 1907) touches the European manufacturers all the more 

 heavily, as the publication of the translation of the new (III) Pharma- 

 copoeia is unfortunately delayed, and may now probably not be 

 expected before May. Although an appeal against this ministerial 

 decision has been lodged by the German Consulate - General at 

 Yokohama on behalf of a number of German firms interested in the 

 chemical trade, it can now hardly be expected that the decision will 

 be altered in good time. 



With regard to the soap industry of Japan, the Minister of the 

 Swiss Republic has recently, reported 1 ) that about 50 factories, mostly 

 in Osaka, have gradually 'been established, which produce monthly 

 about 15 million tablets, and which not only cover the largest 

 home demand, but also export already considerable quantities. The 



x ) Chem. Ztg. 31 (1907), 14. 



