Chungking, Nov. 22.
The Japanese rejection of the neutral Powers' request for reopening of the Yangtze to navigation is only to be expected, in the opinion of the Chinese press here.
Newspapers state that the Japanese are not only closing the Yangtze to foreign shipping at present, but will eventually bring about a monopoly of river trade.
It is declared that while Japane: prevent foreign vessels from navigate ing the Yangtze, an estimated 889 Japanese ships left Shangh: recently ior Hankow, and 849 departed from the latter port for the mouth of the river.
Previously Japanese shipping on the Yangtze could not compete with that of Jardine, Matheson's and Butterfield and Swire's, but now Japanese interests completely control navigation on international waterway, it is pointed out.
The Chinese papers go on to say that the Japanese are using the pr sent opportunity to monopolize Yangtze Valley trade, and that if the other Powers wish to safeguard their own interests in the Far East and maintain the "Open Door" in China, they must take immediate and effective joint action.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.