RASTERN
Parliamentary Question.
46
La.
*83.
9. Mr. Day, — To ask the Prime Minister, whether he can give particulars of any action that has been taken by His Majesty's Government to safeguard the position which has recently arisen by the continued smuggling in China; and what is the present attitude of His Majesty's Government on this subject. [Tuesday 21st February.]
P M. does not wish to cel
ANSWERED
REPLY ATTACHED.
21 FEB 1939
+
The most recent reports on smuggling
in China indicated that smuggling had
practically ceased in the northern ports.
These reports, the most recent of which is
dated the 13th June, 1938, from Tsingtao,
preceded the last question put up by Mr. Day
(see F 12169/453/10), to which we replied
that, according to our information, there had
been an appreciable decrease in smuggling
in North China.
We have learnt, however, from a despatch
from Canton dated the 9th January (F 1145/24/10)
that "large quantities of certain Japanese
goods, mainly in the nature of supplies, have
"arrived in Japanese military transports for
"civilian (principally favour-currying) use
"and have ignored Customs duties", and that the
Japanese Consul-General had previously indicated
to the Commissioner of Customs at Canton that
free imports of this nature would be brought in
for a period pending the resumption of trade.
In view of the above a draft answer sub-
mitted herewith draws a distinction between
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