Prominence is being increasingly given to the smuggling evil in the North, "In "The Times" of March 18 special article from Tientsin infarees strongly the obseevutlons lately made by the British Chamber of Commerce Journal on the revelations of the sister chamber in Tientsin itself. Tt is bluntly pointed out that by the terms of the Tank Truco—that mysterious agreement" between the. Japanese Army and. the North China "authorities. which neither side has" seen ft to discloseChinese Fevenuie cutters (except two) are fore hidden to approach within three mien of the coast. "The Chinese police are of, numerous anous to patrol the const. effectively: and they appear 10 be" afraid of ehatlenging the subjects of their redoubtable neighbour.
The article agrees that smuggling has "always been a stalwart iMegitimate son of Chinese trade: but it has never [displayed itself so boldly as in North China since the recent troubles with the Japanese Army began." The "open audacity" of the smugglers is described as such as would "make Sir Robert Hart tum in his grave" and, apart from the loss of revenue to the Government, it threatens sctinguish several lines of foreign. trade." The solution is recommended in a settlement of the political situation in the North. Whether. that counsel of perfection can be followed is a matter for the Chinese Government to consider in the light of the fads at its disposi
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.