"You are therefore requested to instruct your Upper River steamers not to carry any metallic goods or machinery, pipes and other accessories for the Chungking waterworks, "It is understood that any metal or similar goods either for public or private concerns have to be Jonded at Wanhsien and that the steamer concerned will be responsible for any loss or expense in connection therewith."
"This Bureau also reserves, tho ight to confiscate such cargo.
warranted by circumstances. In case arms and ammunition are dis covered, the ship will be heavily fined in addition to the confiscation of the contraband.
"We commend our solemn declaration to your attention and com-
reply for record." place and we hope to receive 90M Violation of Treaty The embargo on machinery and all classes of iron and steel, on the plea that it is contraband of war being shipped between Ichang and Chungking is significant in that the declaration of such an embargo is solely within the authority of the Chinese Maritime Customs, and stipulated under treaty.
Another interesting point brought out in the up-river situation is in the matter of taxation, Through agreement reached between the British naval and consular authorities and the Chinese authorities, British ships are allowed to be searched at Wanhsien and required to pay whatever taxes are assessed after the search by Yang Sen's representatives. The tax is paid by the shipping companies on behalf of shippers or consignees, the companies being put to the great inconvenience thereafter of collecting from the consignees or shippers as the'case may But although British ships must be searched and taxed at this port they are not allowed banker at Wanhsien owing to the outstanding "Wanhsien Incident." Thus a spectacle is provided which shows clearly the state of affairs for shipping on the upper-river.
New Surtaxes at Tehang Another significant point in the recent installation at Ie of the Hankow Government (Nationalist) Surtax Office in quartera in the Chinese Maritime -Customa building. Refusal to comply with. the demands for surtaxes by river steamers is followed by the withholding of shipping docurients, and apparently the Customs autho! have no authority, or refuse to ex-cecile it, in this connection, sample of the sort of taxation in vogue is provided in a shipment of approximately 7,000 bags of sugar from Shanghai to Chungking, During the course of the trans shipments a sum of Tls. 6,000 had to be guaranteed by company as taxes at vari along the river.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.