Members Received by Head of Manchoukuo Changchun, Oct. 11.
The British Industrial Mission, headed by Lord Barnby, arrived here to-day to solve, if possible, a strange trade situation and solve it in a wav that will mean more direct trade between Great Britain and Manchou-
The mission successively interviewed the Premier, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Commerce and Industry, and oMcials of the Central Bank of Manchoukuo and was received in audience at eleven O'clock by Emperor Kang Teh.
Members found a population of 20,000,000 that is considered fairly prosperous from the viewpoint of East Asian prosperity. This population is buying large amounts of foreign goods, including British wares, but most of them sold through on-British agencies that obtain the major profit and haul them to market in non-British ships.
Polities not Studied Whether the mission will find way to Improve the British trade situation without recognition is the other puzzle now. Foreign circles believe that a large direct trade could be had in exchange for recognition Dut, according to Lord Barnby, the mission is not studying polities but trade.
Tt may be that the trade in the hundreds of unimportant articles may increased suiciently to make a Yarge total, but commercial experts hhere can see little success for such venture. Japan is selling cosmetics, hardware, medicines, rubber goods, taints, foreign-styled foods and hundred other western-styled artlles cheaper than western companies can manufacture them.
The. outlook was not rosy, but none of the experienced businessmen here will deny that the mission will find a way to improve the situation to a considerable extent.
Prominent Chinese merchants explain the popularity of cheap goods trid say that, as the population's buying power increases there will be definite demand for British goods.
Members of the mission will receive every courtesy from their biggest competitors, the Japanese, while they make a thorough survey of the possibilities for Britain.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.