In China, also, during the "active" part of the year, the prospects of continued ' satisfactory trading gradually declined, Unsettled and often depressed markets abroad were already affecting China. Sellers, who Tad grown accustomed to a high revel of price, were, as always in China, loathe to accept a, changing situation and trade became increasingly difficult as the year advanced, During the spring and summer, weather conditions throughout this territory were almost uniformly unfavourable, with the result that summer and autumn crops were for the most part poor, both in quality and quantity In view of the subsequent unfortunate developments, this may have been' a blessing in disguise, Certain it at any rate is that at no time during the past few months have supples been a drag on the market either here or upcountry. One may assume that the producer, aided by the unwonted prosperity, which had accrued to him from the previous year, has so far at any rate been able to hold his relatively small supplies instead of having to throw -them upon unreceptive markets. It is noteworthy that the Foreign Trade Commission, created after the outbreak of hostilities with a capital of twenty million dollars and having as its avowed object the alleviation of distress among producers, has so far found but little scope for its activities
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.