Another line of Japanese defence is that there is more Chinese money invested in the smuggling than Japanese, and that it is being carried fon ty the Chinese themselves, Authoritative Chinese emphatically deny that Chinese business men either are Ananeing or are directly engaged in the smuggling, though naturally it is the Chinese dealers who buy the cargo on arrival. In any case, all accounts agree that the smuggling being carried on by-Japanese transportation companies under the pro= fection of bands of Koreans who are only too aware of the immunity they enjoy, thanks to Japanese extraterritorial' rights. Indeed the Japanese Consular authorities openly, have stated that smuggling into China is offence under the laws of Jupan. In other words, this smupglite is conducted with' the connivance. and Girect. approval of the Japanese authorities The attitude of the Japanese in supporting their nationals in conducting smuggling operations in the territory of a friendly country offers 8 very unpleasing picture of into national morality. Nevertheless, it of a kind to which observers of their activities in North China are not unaccustomed, and, whether we may approve or not, the plain fact is that the Japanese military authorities are using. this smuggling as an instru iment (o obtain certain political obfeels, among which the Towering of the tariffs is only a very secondary consideration,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.