The Controsojus in a letter to the {ankow Toa Guild on Janwary 19, nade. the following statements 0 its business in Hankow lew Year. Now we hat letter, ecauee wes back, though the envelope was pened.
The Permit to do Business The military levy was apparently: imposed by General Chien Chen, Chairman of the Provincial Government of Tupeh and -Hunan, was originally the plan to permit the Centrosojus to conduct its bus-mess in Hankow under supervision and to impos a levy of 5 per cent. fon the whole turnover of its Dusiness in Hankow and Shanghai. including purchase of tea dust in India, Ceylon and Java. Originally, apparently, an attempt was made to exact Tls. 200,000 from the com pany, ostensibly as a special tax, but it would appear more reasonable to assume that the demand for Tis, 200,000 was an attempt to force the company to pay for the privilege of continuing to do business in Hankow. It was explained to the Russians that by paying the Tls. 200,000 in advance, the Centrosojus would prove that it does not con-. duct political propaganda and that it is ready to support the present Hankow Government in its effort to How" and Shanghai, tnforr during' the we bought tea in China markets for Ts. 9,800,000 and ether goods for 'Tls. 1,200,000. and addition: we spend about Ts i000 on manutheture of importation, and. storage of tea te! thus the total amount we spend for China produce in the Yangtze Valley' "im "Tis, 18,600,000. Thi amount does of include Ta, 5,000,- 000, which our Shanghai office has! fe. ay for foroien ten dunt, Cindi, ceylon, Juva) shipped to. Iankow for manufacture of brick toa.
After presentation of the, state. ment. we were invited again and the' Commissioner said that iN be allowed to exist Hankow if it will pay to the Govern. ment 10 per cout, tax on the total or on Tls. 10,000,000 turn fever (we have about that in the ngtze Valley) we had te ay 10,0 suppress the Communist movement, And as this money would make it possible for the local authorities to pay. 10,000 men, the Centrosojus would in thi way. gain the sympathy of the troops.
The Centrosojus was thus placed in a very difficult position, for if made this contribution it would be admitting that it has funds for political purposes and, on the other hand, invit would decline to make contribution there w: lity of its huge stock being in danger. The Company, however, declined to make the payment and the entire staff was arrested and detained for some time.
The company's mail and telegrams from Shanghai were detained and the godowns and factories sealed.
Unhappy Chinese Precedents recounting the above facts S taro is no desire to enter into the general question of the presence of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.