Through Freight Service with North China: Large, Equipment Orders from Shansi Font Oun Owe Comsronoexe Dairen, Mar, 28.
After twenty years of' negotiation, an agreement has finally been con-eluded fora through freight, service between China and Manchoukuo, according to an official announcement Issued by the South Manchuria Rail way Company here, The announeement explains that the agreement calls for the formal inauguration of the service on May 1. Signatories in cluded Mr. Soibet Saicai, representing the SMR. and the General Direction fof Manchoukuo State Railways, and Mr. Cheng Chiao-sheng, on behalf of the Peiping-Shanhaikuan Railway. The accord, it is further explained, is "in accordance with the stipulations fof the Tangku Truee Agreement."
'Understood to comprise thirteen articles, the agreement, among other provisions, states that it may be abrogated by any party concerned on six months' notice or modified at any time after mutual consultation by the three parties to the agreement.
Direct delivery of goods _between Manchoukuo and North China at! present Is by boat. Goods sent by Tallway are received at Shanhaikuan for Fe-shipment to their destinations, the system paralyzing trade by rally way between Manchoukuo and Chins The new agreement Is expected to remove the barrier by permitting all {goods to flow through Shanhaikuan Glrectly to and from North China. 'Seventy-eight of the principal stations of the SMR, the Manchoukuo State Railways and the Pelping-Shanhal-Kuan Railway have been selected to handle goods for through inter national transit. Twelve of the stations are on' the SMR. system, 'Atty' on the Manchoukuo lines and ten on the Peiping-Shanhaikuan Rail.
Transport charges for goods for alzect shipment are to be calculated fon basis of the present rales of the three parties, the SMR. announcement further explains. The Oriental Tourist Bureau is to be commissioned to handle all business relating to customs duties which will be imposed on goods at Shanhatkuan.
"The feeling Is expressed hero that the now freight arrangement is bound to promote trade. Some elreles even Believe the agreement marks "an epoch" in the history of railway treme in this part of the world, Shaast Gets Rolling Stock Sasaki, director of the railway company, is en route to Tokyo in order seek the understanding of the new Government in this connection, the paper asserts. Mr. Sasaki is expected Immediately to confer with ofeials in connection with the plan to raise during the current fiscal year a total in debentures, re-@eemable in thirteen years at 43 per tent. interest. The money Is understood to be absolutely necessary and the minimum required by the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.