In connection with the British blockade of German ports and its re-&ction on the export of Manchoukuo-beans and bean-oil to the large Ger man market in Germany, interest is centred on a timely article by Mr. P. Tischenko on the proposed export of the "Manchurian Gold," via Siberia or through the Arctic ocean.—Mr. Tischenko was a Mayor of the Harbin Municipality before 1921. Conversations on the latter proposal are being made between Manchoukuo authorities and the Soviet Government, hitherto confined to the export of bean-oil.
The first difficulty uncovered is the necessity of pouring the oil from Japanese tanks to Soviet ones, which are much smaller. It is interesting to note that the first experiments of exporting bean-oil via Siberia were made in the beginning of the 1920's [by the Soskin firm. The pouring of the oil from Japanese to Russian tanks was supervised by Baron Okura, then member of the management of the S. M. R. The oil often froze, and although fires were lighted under the tanks a percentage was lost each time.
The oil, a valuable product, will be able to stand the high railway tariff, but in the case of a less valuable product like beans, of which Germany alone needs tens of millions of boods (one pood ig equal to 40 1b.) the question is dubious. In this connection it is probable that the Soviets will offer to ship the product via the Arctic Toutes which they have developed. It is possible, concludes Mr. Tischenko, that this summer will sec their passage through the Arctic.
A dinner party in honour of the Russian professors of the Chinese National Conservatory of Music was given last week by this large organization, Speeches stressed the excellent work done by the Russian faculty of that university and the large part they play in giving the Chinese as well as foreign population of this city a musical education, Among the Russian teachers present were Mrs. Z. A. Pribitkova, Prof. B. S. Zakharoff, Prof. S. S. Aksakoff and Prof. I, I. Shevtzoft.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.