Manchoukuo's direct contribution to the defence expenses, "outside of the maintenance of the Manchouico Army, have been very small in comparison withthe total expense, in turred by the Japanese Army. The possibility of Manchoukuo's share be-Ing increased Is. indicated. by the regent improvement in foreign trade. For the last few months Dfanchouku has shown an excess of exports, although for the ending with February' 29; the total of exports exceeded 613,000,000 yuan, while the imports were less than 428,000,000 20 that the trade balance is) far. from reaching the favourable position which Manchuria enjoyed from 1913 to 1981, Recent projects which are described a6 important in connection with national defence include the new soda company, with a factory near Dairen, and head office at Hsinking, and the coal liquefaction plant of the S.MCR. The "Railway has appropriated '¥,4,000,000 in the current budget, 1,000,000 of which will be spent in. erecting a plant, and 3,000,000 in pur chase of machinery. It is expected that. ¥. 10,000,000 "more will be, in~ vested during the second year. The plant Is described as an experimental plant, A production of 20,000 tons all a year Is proposed. The coal fused will be from the Fushun Mines where the new plant will be located, will be recalled that a similar plant capitalized -at Y. 6,000,000" is. to be erected at Ssupingkal where the coal Will be brought from the mines at
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.