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curry favour with the Chinese, and to give some sop to the
numerous Japanese traders at Canton, while preventing free
trade and foreign competition.
7.
The above rather fragmentary infomation will give
some idea of the extent to which goods are being
>
smuggled"
into Cant on. There is no definite proof at present of the
movement of export cargo but there is good evidence in one
case that a consignment of 1379 rolls of straw mats has been
shipped to Formosa, there to be transhipped to Hongkong.
It is believed that the dealer owning the cargo managed to
arrange this through some person or organization
(presumably Japanese) in Hongkong, but it is not yet known
whether the cargo has arrived at Hongkong, and, if so, who
took delivery of it. Rumours of a steam launch and junk
service between Canton and Hongkong under Sino-Japane se
auspices have on examination proved groundless.
8.
The above-mentioned facts do of course indicate the
existence of "Japan ese free trade" at Canton, but (as
already stated) they also indicate that to say that "the
city is being flooded with Japanese goods of every
description" is to give a false impression. As long as
there is no security in Canton, and no hinterland, none of
the wealth which has left is likely to return, and as long
as the populati on consists almost entirely of the poorer
classes it is clear that there can be no general resumption
of trade, on anything like the former scale, whether by
Japanese, Chinese or foreign interests. Hence the present
"smuggling has not the importance it would have were Canton
a "going concern".
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant,
(signed)
A.P. BLUNT.
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