In a sense the arrangements made for transporting foodstuffs from the militarily occupied areas of the Settlement were disappointing. Of the twenty six trucks which brought food back from the expedition none carried cold storage commodities. It will also be noted that the proportion of trucks available for food transport was unfortunately small. No-one probably was more disappointed than Mr. Suemasa Okamoto who, in the face of great difficulties, had made special efforts to facilitate the much-desired recovery. The exigencies of military requirements, apart from other and perhaps not altogether understandable obstacles, necessarily threw on all concerned the responsibility of making arrangements for transport at extra ordinarily short notice. A further complication was introduced by the discovery, when it was too late, that the Japanese authorities were working on Japan time and that gave the expedition even less opportunity than the participants expected. The transport of food was subjected to hindrance owing to the fact that owners of cargo were able to make earlier arrangements for the acquisition of vehicles with the result that the Council had to be content with what Aransport it could collect at terribly short notíc&" It is hoped that experience thus gained will enable both ihe Japanese authorities, the Council and the owners of goods to secure smoother organization so that whatever time may be allotted it will be utilized to the best possible advantage. British subjects will be assuredly grateful for the exceptionally alert action of the officials of H.B.M. Consulate-General. The special steps promptly taken to adapt the routine to the urgent requirements of the issue of permits were much appreciated and it is generally recognized that they derived from a real understanding of the needs of the situation and a readiness to spare no effort—at whatever personal inconvenience—in the service of the community. In short the consular officers in question displayed a businesslike grasp of the situation and conducted themselves accordingly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.