The chairman of the Tientsin British Chamber of Commerce, speaking recently at the annual general meeting of the chamber, drew attention fo the manner in which Japanese assurances as to the sanctity of neutral third party interests are being observed in north China. Tt appears that soon afler the occupation of Paotou by the Japanese troops, all Chinese wool merchants, were ordered to register their stocks with the Japanese authorities who thereupon sealed the premises in which the wool was stored. About three months ago the Japanese purchased 33,000 bales on the basis of $75.80 a picul clean weight, paid for in Meng Chiang notes, or the old Three Eastern Provinces Notes surcharged with the name of the Bank of Manchoukuo and later by the Bank of Charnan. The cargo was then transported into Manchoukuo. The value of the Meng Chiang notes is at present maintained by what is practically exchange control. It is now reported that an organization is being formed in Kalgan to take charge of the exportation of camel and sheep wool, with a capital of Yen 8,000,000 subscribed by eight Japanese firms. This will have monopolistic Tights over the purchase of these commodities coming from Mongolia, Hsinchiang and"Kansu, trade, It is alla matter of relativity, but it does inspire the comforting thought that there is so part of China where they do not table about the war and more or Yess normal life continues in which local affairs dominate although the topic may be unfortunately banditry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.