London, Apr. 29, The smuggling situation in "North (China was the subject of disewsion in the House of Commons to-day, Mr, Alan Charlton asked. the For-ign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, whether he had drawn the attention of the Japanese Government to the serious consequences of the extensive muddling of Japanese goods through Bast Hopel, and inquired what steps were being taken to secure the Brit-Hah loans secured on the Chinese Customs.
The serious growth of smuggling in Worth China, Mr, Eden said in reply, had been engaging the Government attention for some time past, and aieady had formed the subject representations both to the Chinese and Japanese Governments. In view, however, of the recent deterioration fu the position and a. reduction of duly levied on goods entering North China by the demilitarized zone, the Government was at present actively considering what further steps could be token to safeguard British trade that area and to ensure the seutity of foreign oan services, ie_had_ no oficial information, Mr. Bien added, concerning the loss Chinese Customs revenue, but {ull report was coming from the Enbassy in China—Reuter, Tarltt Agtement Discussed Tokyo, May 2..
Pointing out that British commerce was being seriously affected by the mougaling situation in North Chins, Sir Robert "Henry Clive, British Ambassador, to-day asked Mr. Hachiro Ala, Japanese Foreign Minister, for information on the Tokyo Governments altitude on the question.
Calling on Me, Arita at the Gai hmusho at 11 oclock this morning, the British envoy remained in conversa~ on for about 30 minutes.
Sir Robert, Domei learned from {lable sources, informed Mr. Arita his government was paying Serious attention to the recent tariff {tteeinent reportedly concluded be-{seen the ast Hopel Autonomous government and Manchoukuo, under hich "goods "imported from the ler were being given a preferential if, one-fourth below that of the inese Maritime Customs. ite British envoy, it is further {ttetstood, "also. mentioned reports the Hopet and Charhar Political fauell was about to, conclude a milar arrangement with Manchotely him with all available in-and requested Mr. Arita to (motion on the subject received rhe Japanese Foreign Office, tr. Ariia is understood to have muted that the Japanese: Govern vas also concerned. with the sling in North China, but that aeietitded the suppression of such Witles the task. of the Nanking 7 Provincial Markets Lanchow, Apr. 27.
Kansu_ and other north-western provinces have become a popular market of goods of "a certain foreign country" smuggled into North China through the so-etlled demilitarized. zone, according to a survey made of business conditions in these parts of China.
Mariced with cheaper prices, these foreign products are literally flooding the local market, composed mainly of sugar, cotton and marine products.
The survey estimates that 80 per cent. of imported goods came through North. China and only about 20 per ent. through Sharghat and Nanking Prices for imported goods which had recently shown a tendency of rising, according to the survey. have now considerably dropped owing to the flooding of smuggled goods.
Unserupulous merchants who see in it a convenient source of handsome profit are learned to be purchasing these foreign goods in considerable Quantities and then shipping them fo Shensi, Ninghsia, Chinghai and other north-western provinees—Central News.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.