1
esses. Butterfield & wire to join the ssociation or to
stop them from using their own labour to move cargo between
the "Fatshan" and their godowns.)
3. As fighting was still going on in the vicinity of
Canton, the Japanese military were compelled to impose these
restrictions, whereby they hoped to ascertain the quantity
of each article which was required for the occupied area and
to rohibit anything in excess of this quantity, which would
probably pass into a reas under Chinese control. It was hoped
gradually to reduce this list.
The Consul-Gɛnesl then brought up other questions con-
nected with the river opening :
Butterfield à 3wire Test Bund tharf: It was mi-
featly unfair that, while Ja anese ships in Hongkong were
allowed to use their own wharves, iesars. Butterfield a wire
should be denied the use of this wharf in Canton, which was
far more onvenient for all concerned than the wharf at Pak
Hin Hok. To the Japanese reply that this was a questi on
of jolice and Military supervision, the Consul-General observed
that the Meat Bund Tharf was ideally placed for surveillance,
being in the middle of the city, where all the approaches
could easily be controlled. Mr. Kita ansured the Consul-
Gener 1 that he was keeping this question before the Japanese
authorities and he hoped shortly to have a favourable reply.
b. Coesters. When the Consul-General was in Hongkong
recently he discussed various points with interested officials
and merchanta and they were unanimous in the opinion that it
was moat desirable that coasters should be allowed to call
at Canton. Not until then could trade return. In this oon-
nexion he pointed out that Japanese transports vere continually
working omego at Whampoa, which was outside Customs control,
and he gathered that, when military stores were insufficient
to fill a shin, ordinary commercial freight was carried.
After considerable hesitation and very unconvincingly Mr. Kita
replied that in such an event the comercial cargo paid Justorm
duty.