It was authoritatively learned yesterday that the recent notes sent the various members of the Consular Body in Shanghai by Mr. Li Gien-nan, Superintendent of the Customs appointed by the "Reformed Government," did not deal with "prohibition" of import and export of Chinese bank notes but aimed at "controlling the Movement of currency handled by winks." No reply has reached Mr. Li yet from the Consular Body.
Mr. Li told the "North-China Daily News" that he regretted that misunderstandings had been created by the reports about his request explaining that he did not aim at prohibiting importation or exportation of legal tender notes. He said he merely wanted to control the movement of currency among banks, especially foreign banks which, he alleged, had ces J een shipping large quantities of Chinese bank notes to Shanghai.
He said that banks engaged in shipping in bank notes could well serve their purpose by applying for "permission" from him first and that permission would be granted if the imported bank notes Would be used Ct adequately. He asserted that the matter mainly concerned foreign banks, as Chinese banks had not transported the notes in large quantities to Shanghai to the extent of inviting his attention.
The Order, he explained, primarily aimed at looking after the "welfare of the et and trade" in Shanghai because the presence of superfluous thejbank notes would cause "inflation." Asked as to whether or not there were difficulties in carrying out, his request, he said that it was another question.
Chinese press reports stated yester-gay that the Customs authorities here had refused to carry out Mr. Li's order which has so far not affected the imquantities of wheat. hand, the havoc caused by the war put many roads and railways out of order.
Consequently, the Germans are compelling Polish prisoners to do the repair work for them.—Havas.
Gas Masks Supplied to Passengers New Service Seen in N.Y.K.
Liners to Europe Tokyo, Nov. 9.
The N. Y. K. Line today.went one step further io assure its travellers to Europe protection in the war zone. AW passengers aboard the Haruna Maru were fitted with gas masks so as ie provide safety in case of a gas attack while the ship is in port.
In addition to the masks, the company took the further precaution of painting emblems of the Rising Sun on both sides of the vessel. Powerful lighting facilities were set up to make known at night its home country.
The Haruna Maru left Kobe on Tuesday afternoon and is scheduled to arrive in Shanghai on Saturday at dawn.
Among the passengers provided with gas masks were Mr. Renzo Sawada, the new Japanese Ambassador to France, and many Englishmen and Frenchmen returning to their native lands.
The ship is carrying a large list of passengers and about 10,000 tons of cargo to Europe.—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.