Canton, Aug. 3.
The French claim to the coral i tends in the South China Sea arousing particular concern in Ca ton owing to the geographical reations of the islands with south China and the intention of the southern Chinese authorities to open up and develop the areas.
semi-official statement to-day declares that the three-year, plan for the reconstruction of south China, adopted by the Southwest Political Council last year, provides for the development of the islands, which in. cludes the installation of & powerful ratio station. there.
The Southwest authorities are alying the question careful study at present, justifying their interest the problem by the, claim that the jalnds, being Chinese territory, come under the direct jurisdiction of the Southwest Government.
It is hinted ing that the wse press aport cou-leompanies "and, on the pretext that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.