London, Apr. 23. extent of the stranglehold on British trade which the Japanese have maintained since they nite illegally occupied the northern and eastern parts of the International Settlement at Shanghai as a military base against the Chinese last August" is not realized in England, says Lord Elibank, a former President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, in a letter appearing in "The Times" today.
Referring {o the impediments to British business imposed by the Japanese, Lord Elibank cites the refusal of the Japanese authorities to allow the British-owned tramway company to send trams to the repair shops in Yangtszepoo or to resume its services north of the Soochow Creek for Chinese workers employed by tobacco factories.
Lord Elibank also cites the passive attitude of the Japanese authorities to assaults against foreigners in. dis riety under Japanese control and to the smuggling of Japanese goods there, "It is the opinion of many com> potent and cool-headed observers, he continues, "that more might have eon done io resist Japanese encroachments at Shang! ith the stationing of Japanese censors: at the Post Omlee and of Japanes Customs examiners on all. wharves."
"it is highly unlikely," Lord Elibank proceeds, "that Japan would risk an open clash with us if we stood firmly for our rights.
In recent weeks it has been made lear that the Japanese Government {is anxious to get on good terms with Great Britain, Swiss Want Neutrality
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.