60 93388
282
518877.
C.
E
(Yunnan, China)
53669
Rece (Rro 9 NOV 18!
536
1. Kr. John Hatfield was interviewed in N.I.D. on Tuesday
October 22nd; he stated that he had but recently returned
from China where, among other plices, he had visited the
Kochiu Tin Mines near Kengtze in Yunnan. He stated that
these mines are owned and worked by certain definite local
families who form an extremely close corporation, and who
are determined to maintain their monopoly, and who are
strong enough to ignore or override the action of Chinese
Officials. The only possible method, short of military
force, by which an outside interest, either foreign or
winere, could obtain any share in the control of the
workings would be by entering into partnership with the
Cantonese, who manage the financial site of the enterprise.
These Cantonese are bored on hong kong,
MT Hatfield stated that some eighteen months ago
(the date is not certain) a party of Japanese came to the
mines armed with permits issued by Peking and endorsed by
Their ostensible
-
the Frovincial Governor at Yiumanfų.
object was to inspect the wines, but in spite of permits and
official introductions, the workers the coolies, to ure
Mr. Hatfield's own words refused to allow then anywhere
near the workinge. Mr. Hatfield also stated that before
the war, a German in the employ of Carlowitz and Co., nad
been in or about the workings endeavouring to establish a
footing on the very lines which, as stated above, Mr. Hat-
field considers to be the only ones offering a prospect of
RUCCARS.
It is understood that a member of Mr. Hatfield's firm
18/
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