Shanghai, Jan, 24 published by the "Nation-and other Chinese dailies staled yesterday that there was hope that the Japanese might relax the blockade regulations along the Che= long and Fukien coast after the Lunar New Year and that many for coign-owned steamers were preparing resume business. Tt wax oven assorted that the Japanese were con-Sidering the reopening of the closed ports along the China coast.
Foreign shipping circles wore said to be negotiating with Japanese outhorities with a view. to. operating ships In coastal' waters by promising fa "special fee" and. by refusing 10 carry articles that the Japanese con-Sider as contraband, Questioned about the above report, a Chinese executive in foreign shipping eftcles Stated yesterday he had heard no thing about the resumption of shipping along the blockaded coast. His Company was. not sending ships to the closed ports Gre was completed. Very little In the way of unsound food-stuffs has been found or, selzed during the month.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.