Beyond what they have seen in the press, tea exporters have not heard riy details of Ube trouble between the Anhwei authorities and the local tea hhonas to which references were made the news columns of this journal twice last week, Into the merits of the dispute there is no disposition to enter but it is obvious that the Anhwei Government's sudden decision to exercise control at a time when the ea chauid be on the point of plucking for export raises a dificult prob-Jem, There is a danger that any delay in receipt by London of supplies may permanently damage the trade with disastrous effects. Keemun the last remaining satisfactory tea trade between England and China, both to growers and to exporters. and it seems a pity to tamper with the only healthy demand when s0 many Teas from other districts really do need Government attention. In any case {1 is highly improbable that any faction could increase consumption, since Keemun alone is a high quality trade, confined mainly to the United Kingdom, appealing to. a limited public, It seems to be a case of swepping horses when crossing. the Stream, If arrangements to institute government control are contemplated the more suitable time to start is in November as then the trade has sufficient nolice to enable it to adjust itself to the new conditions. As it is the Anhwei authorities seem to have presented the hongs with a first-class grievance, but, more important still, they are in danger of creating conditions which may adversely affect an export trade. of considerable importance to China,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.