Growing Pessimism and Apprehension in Commercial Circles Over the Future From Our Own Correspondent.
London, Sept. 27.
Opinion regarding China seems more and more pessimistic. Even traders are beginning to feel apprehension and the necessity of the Government tal some steps with regard to British trade in view of the unsettled political situation in China was mentioned in an address to the Leeds Chamber of Commerce this week by Colonel Bidder, of the Associated Bri Locomotive—Manufacturers for China.
"it a sense we are between Scylla and Charybdis," he said. "T do not propose that any policy should be presented to our Foreign Office, but rather the necessity that some action with a view to restoring normal conditions should be taken. There is a feeling in China that if the British Government sponsored any interference in internal affairs in China it would probably result in a boycott of British goods in China.'* He suggested that 2 resolution should be forwarded to the Associated Chambers of Commere suggesting that no opportunity should be lost of putting what pressure was possible on. the Government to ye-open the great field of trade at present lying fallow in China. It was felt that there was lying dormant an enormous field of opportunity. Money, riches, and capacity were there but the political chaos now prevailing made it impossible to carry on trade, resolution that the position of British trade in China was viewed with misgiving. and urging pressure by the Associated Chambers of Commerce om the Government in the matter was carried.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.