Peking, Feb, 14, The destruction of hundreds of Chinese "smuggling villages" along 1,090 miles of almost inaccessible border between North Manchuria and Siberia by Soviet, Russian troops during the past few months has been described to the United Pres: by an American traveller who has just returned frou: that. region, These nests of smugglers were the real objective of the numerous raids along the border during the height of the dispute over the IChinese Eastern Raihvay, the traveller declared. The Red authorities want-. ed to scare the smuggles permanently, and the presence of large armed forees in the Siberian dise trict gave them an opportunity to attend to this matter while they were waiting to settle the rallvay It is well known that many priced very high in Soviet Russia, on account of the state-controlled industries, Even Soviet-manufactured goods can be obtained in North Manchuria ay a fraction of the prices.which they command in Russia. The rewards to smugglers ore therefore very great, As a result of this situation, thousands of Chinese and a few Russian emigvés had built up a very large traffe in smuggled goods, which had its cen tre at Harbin, The border near both termini of the Chinese Eastern Eastern Railway was closely patroled, but the 1,000 miles of border Uetween these points could not be watched so carefully. The Chinese and White Russians had settled in hundreds of little villages, in which almost every one of the inhabitants was engaged more or less exclusive ly in smuggling goods into Russia, These smuggling operations ally were a source of extrem rotation to the Soviet authorities, as quantities of goods were being shipped into Siberia and offered at prices well below the stateixed rates, still affording a handsome profit to the smugglers. It will b remembered that the Red armies were constantly making raids. across the border during the railway. dispute last summer and autumn, 'The American traveller declared that these raids wore chiefly directed at the smugglers, although it was thought at the time that they were intended to scare the Chinese armies, It is estimated that about 800 of these "smugglers' villages' were entirely bron up by Red army and the smuggling industry received such a setback that business in Harbin is still far below what it was before the railway dispute, although normal conditions have otherwise been restored in. North Manchuria, 'The United Press informant declared that the present Soviet de mand for the deportation 6£ White' Russians in North Manchuria {s. concerned chiefly with smuggling, rather than their political activities: White Russians were the leading spirits in the large smuggling industry, and the Soviet believes it can deal with Chinese smugglers if the White Russians are eliminated." The traveller declared that he the sites of a number of these villages, which resembled old-style mining camps in the American west, They sre deerred now, and the Soviet intends to Keep a close watch upon tke border in futures United Press, Acconoine to the the Chinese Government's. revent stamp regulations will be enforced in the French Concession from next NANKING, Feb, 18:—It is learned that the agreement for the rendition of the Belgian Concession at Tientsin, concluded last August, is now. before the Belgian Parliament for ratification—Reuter, Wee A cory of the draft Sino-Turkish Treaty recently concluded: between Dr, C. C, Wu, Chinese Minister to" the United States, and. the Turkish Minister in Washington has. been ent to Nanking for examination, after which, it will be signed, xe: ports a Nanking telegram,'
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