Amoy, May 26.
Japanese naval and consular authorities yesterday categorically rejected proposals for a slackening of the prohibition on junk traffic between Kulangsu and the mainland made by the Municipal Council and the Consular Body, Domei learned today. A ban on all junks operating between Kulangsu and the mainland went into effect at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Mr. L. H. Hitchcock, acting chairman of the Kulangsu Municipal Council, called on Mr. Goro Uchida, Japanese Consul-General, yesterday afternoon to lodge representations against the interruption of junk traffic, pointing out that it would cause an acute shortage of commodities in the International Settlement.
Mr. Hitchock was understood to have declared that the question was one of "Tite and death" for Kulangsu.
Mr. Uchida was reported ta have emphasized that the measures taken by the Japanese naval authorities were aimed at preventing the infiltration of anti-Japanese elements into Kulangsu. He assured Mr. Hitchcock that he would take note of the Council's views and would communicate them to the Japanese naval authorities.
Meantime, the Japanese Navy rejected a 1 by the Consular Body for the establishment of a special zone in Tsoao patrolled by Japanese police for the landing of food stuffs from the mainland.
Japanese naval officers were understood to have declared that "such a makeshift measure" would be incapable of preventing anti-Japanese elements from landing in Kulangsu.
Japanese authorities emphasized that Kulangsu can depend upon Amoy for the supply of daily necessities even if trafüc with the mainland should be totally suspended.
Mr. Hitchcock, who is the manager of the Amoy Branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, was elected acting chairman of the Council on Wednesday in the place of Mr, J. Morhaus, chairman, who has requested a leave of absence.
Mr. Mprhaus, it was understood, asked for leave in order "to avoid fur-involvement in the Kulangsu He is Hungarian and Netherlands consul here—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.