Much space is taken up in the Chinese press in support of the opposition to the so-called Industrial Famine Surtax. To publish all of what the protesters say would be impossible, and is unnecessary, as in the main they only repeat what has appeared in these columns already. Various bodies have sent in protests vowing that they will not recognize the tax, but whether their declarations will be of any avail is another matter. Chinese newspapers express a hope that the Government, in order to appease the merchants and citizens, will forego"the tax or at least modify the terms. Will it? At any rate it seems certain, from the tone of the merchants' protests, that they will put up a hard struggle for. their rights. Inside the Settlement they are safe enovmh, but outside we doubt they will have to pay. However, the date for the introduction of the surtax was set for December
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.