ta
bsb
Fut
To
10
1
ponoži Jágin
shipped to America, but I have no reason
suspect that
625
these shipments were financed by Diederichèn and
Company and in any case they were forwarded British ships and under affidavite that they were not ar enemy consumption.
As regards the price of hides at Hankow, there has been a fairly steady rise since the beginning of the season but no attempt has at any time been made by Arnhold Karberg or any other German firm to effect a corner of the
arket by offering terms much in excess of those which their competitors were prepared to give.
It has been suggested to me by a gentleman familiar with this branch of trade that the report in question may have arisen in the following manner. Early in the year certain German firms at Hankow, although not in a position to buy and find a market for any great quantities of hides induced some of the Chinese dealers to deposit large consignments in German godowns at this port, having per-
suaded them that the war ould soon be over and that the
prices obtainable subsequently would be far in excess of those then ruling. This manoeuvre on the part of the German firms caused some temporary inconvenience to other
buyers in obtaining supplies of hides, but as the market
price rose steadily in consequence of the strong demand
the Chinese dealers soon decided to withdraw their stocks
from German hands and most of them were sold to British,
Italian and French shippers,
1 have, &c.
(Signed)
H. J. Brett.
Vice-Consul in Charge.