The denial of access to the Chinese to the Northern and Bastern districts, except to a very limited extent under permit, prevents the re-opening of industrial plants in these districts and. thus retards the return to normalcy. [Until there is freedom of access to [Chinese as well as foreigners confidence cannot be restored, and until there is a restoration of confidence there cannot be that recovery. for which we all hope. While a certain number of foreign plants are working fon reduced schedules the stagnation Jof Chinese industries in these areas automatically reduces. the recuperative capacity of the port.
Both the Import and the Export trades are at the prevent time suffering from the same disabilities and until the channels of trade up the Yangtze and to the hinterland are opened little or no improvement can bbe expected in. the present trading position. Importers are now well supplied with'cargo which cannot be [shipped to consuming centres, while Exporters are unable to obtain the Produce from the interior. The necessity for freedom of access to the Northern and Eastern areas has already been emphasized as a pre-re-Jquiste for the re-establishment of Industry. Freedom of communication with the hinterland and river ports is of no less importance to Shanghai.
Military exigency is claimed in respect of the cit-are of the Yangtze land other outlets for trade and dificult to see when sch a. claim may not be made, biti Shanghat cannot live on itself and though the [Chinese trader is a past master in the art of overcoming dimeulties, it diMeult to see how even he can overcome the diMieulties due to this closure of outlets, to say nothing of the devastation or the country and the destruction' of his. normal markets.
China is very largely dependent on its agricultural products and inasmuch tas in the area between Shanghai and Wahu and south to Hangchow the country has to a large extent been devastated it is diMeult to see how Jenything or even adequate food supplies can be expected from these areas unless the Chinese farmers are encouraged to return and are con-vineed that they can do so in safety.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.