Hankow, Apr. 16.
There is a good deal of apprehension in Chinese business circles as to what will happen if the B. A. T. does not get redress for its recent losses through the seizure of tobacco leaf at Hsuchow. A leading. merchant yesterday expressed the opinion that if this sort of thing can be done with impunity to produce' bought by foreigners, there is little hope of a restoration of confidence among Chinese dealers.
Asked what he thought of the orders issued in Honan forbidding the sale or slaughter of caltle, thi same merchant expressed approval of the orders. He pointed out that for some time past the Honanese have been killing cattle at an abnormal rate as they felt that the risk of the cattle being carried off by soldiers or bandits was great. The meat has therefore been sold at very low rates and the skins and bones prepared for sale. Things have got to the pass when there is 4 shortage of cattle for farm work and_for breeding purposes, and the recent, orders are necessary if the! Fight équilibeium is to be restored,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.