Tt would, therefore, be more. than human' if, with a few notable exceptions, the greater number of [them did not regard the Japanese Joceupation with very critical eyes jand ascribe the failing-off in trade the establishment of the new state. JO few admitted that, with Japan Jatready holding the port of Dairen land the railway, foreign trade was, bound to be ousted in the long run, Ino matter whether Manchoukuo had jover been invented or not, More jover. it was admitted on all sides that lurider the new dispensation foreign firms had been better treated than funder the former regime. Taxation iso far had not been oppressive or [discriminatory and was subject to \Gefnite fixed rules and regulations which were not, as formerly, arbiftrarily enforced; nor were firms sub-ect fo the constant blackmail and interference of former times.
The critical attitude of the foreign business community, therefore, goes tittle deeper. In the frst place, under Chang Tso-lin and his successor they were in what might be termed Jo position; on the old Chinese prin ciple of laying of one nationality against another, they were treated as Not only has this now all ceased, but a directly opposite tendency has Jeet in. Leaving aside the flowery harangues to which T was almost Jdatly subject. as to how Japan had Jestablished the, state of Manchoukuo solely for the purpose of "ensuring the peace of the Far East" and "for ithe good of the Manchu peopl Jeoming down to earth, one can scarcely blame the Japanese, if in this age of violent national competi-{ion they think of their own inter Jests frst. It is therefore perhaps Jonly.natural that the Manchoukuo [Government should give the greater part of all its contracts to the Sapanese, from whom. it must be remembered, it has received the lat loans that are "chiefly accountable ouse they finance them by" taking vote. industrial undertakings,
Share ter as payment for goods the altitude of the Japanese ofteias supplied.
this question of foreign trade any' rate, quite clear and loge one leading personage explained to\mer=The "Open Door" poly for [China had been radically affected by {ine establishment of the Independent fate of Manchoukuo and required considerable modifications to bring it {nto line with the new conditions. war not only natural, but owing her "geographical, economic, "and political position. in relation to the Rew state, inevitable that Japan Should obtain the lion's share of the de, whilst thet. of other nations decreased. On the other hand, the development. of) Manchoukuo to. a prosperous and financially sound Bate, which was their alm, mist in the long run lead toa great increase the folal volume of trade, so that the amount of forelun rade' was Likely to be considerably greater than formerly, even it the actual prop tion. was leas, Nor, was T given to Lnderstang, would the recognition of Manchouliio greatly alter that situa
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.