Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, whose Yangtze interests, are closely allied with those of Jardine Mathieson Ca., stated yesterday that the formation of the new company was a definite threat to British interests and that if it were put into operation their losses would be as great as those of the other British company:
It is felt, however, that until more is known about the Yangtze River Steamship Ca, little can be done to protect British trade along the river, which has received a heavy blow since the Japanese occupation of all the major ports as far as Hankow. Their refusal to open the river for competitive trade has already been felt by local foreign firms, it was stated, and although efforts have been made, with some success, to ensure a fair deal of British shipping along the Lower reaches, the formation of such a company would be a tragic blow to any hopes of re-establishing British shipping in its former position,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.