The publication of the alleged contents of the Sino-Japanese Agreement relating to the Chinese Customs Tariff by the vernacular papers has brought forth a storm of sin from the local Chinese merchants, whose views are best expressed in a telegram addressed the National Associated Chambers of Commerce to the National Government. Generally speaking, the merchants express opposition to the article regarding the scope and the tariff rate of commercial commodities that will enjoy reciprocal treatment, The telegram says that, if the agreement is enforced, China will suffer and the Japanese will benefit because most of China's commercial commodities which will enjoy reciprocal treatment will be raw materials, whilst Japan's will be, in tHe main, manufactured articles. China, riters say, is unable to compete with foreign nations insofar as her industries are concerned and the merchants throughout the country are unanimous hoping that domestic indust will be protected through favourable Customs tariff rates, Should this agreement be enforced, the other Powers will demand similar privileges and China will not be in a position to reject. their demands. Therefore, they say, China wilt suffer and all hopes of freeing her industries from 90 years' bondage will be gone. In conclusion, the writers appeal to the Centtal Government not to ratify the agreement unless changes are made which carry the approval of the merchants throughout the country,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.