Manila, Oct. 2.
The action of German freighters loading up with Japanese coal in Manila Bay and then departing for destinations unknown is undoubtedly responsible for the recent order issued by the Japanese Government for the restriction of the importation of Japanese coal to the Philippine Islands. According to the Japanese Consul-General here, his Government originally required that exporters of coal from Japan must make a cash bond deposit equal to twice the value of coal shipped to all ports in the Pacific south of Hongkong; the deposit only to be refunded on presentation of a landing certificate signed by the Japanese Consul at the port of importation. What is more, this certificate must be presented within three months from the time the bond is deposited to secure its cancellation and the refund of the money.
It is only natural that the announcement should have created a certain amount of consternation in local circles, for the order would enable dealers to unload their stocks a premium, and also render it difficult to sell coal here for export. It is said, however, that the representatives of Manila coal dealers in Japan have been partially successful in inducing the Japanese Government to modify its recent order (how much, is not definitely known) and that assurances from the Manila dealers that no cargoes of coal will be sold to ships of belligerent nations would accomplish still further relaxations,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.