The various spokesmen insisted that all cargo for Yangtze ports came in official transports or in ships chartered by the Government. Asked to make a categorical denial that Japanese merchants were buying ordinary Chinese produce for shipment from Yangtze ports to Japan, no spokesman would do so. It was stated that it was very difficult for Japanese, busi-newsmen to purchase goods in the interior, Although admitting that there were about 1,500 Japanese civilians along the Yangtze, it was asserted that all had some connection with the services, but some were conducting shops for the sale of Japanese goods to the troops. It was vaguely slated that Chinese could purchase Japanese goods in Nanking, but that these all came by rail or truck from Shanghai. Military permits had to be obtained before shipment.
A correspondent wished to know if foreign firms could obtain such permits and the spokesman thought it possible. The journalist then pointed out that he had made exhaustive investigation among American firms in Shanghai and could not find a single instance of a permit having been issued to American businessmen.
That beans and bristles were being shipped in Japanese vessels was emphasized by correspondents; this brought the reply that "it must be investigated."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.