commodities are very badly needed by the Communists, in particular petrol and lubricating cils. Communist restrictions and regulations are however hampering development of healthy trade and it is a somewhat venture- some business. The cutting of postal and telegraphic communications with Tientsin after the rejection by the Nationalists of the Communist peace terms proved a severe handicap to merchants, but telegraphic communication was restored in the middle of the month.
Some
11.
On May the 13th the scheme to build a new airport at Deep Bay was announced, after careful previous publicity. The announcement was fairly well received, and the inhabitants of the villages which may have to be removed appeared at first to raise no difficulties when it was pointed out that they would be resettled under better conditions, and that there would be many jobs available for them when the airport was complete. of the villagers have however now got together and petitions are being sent in begging that they should not be disturbed from their homes. This does not yet appear to have become an organised campaign. The Chinese Foreign Office in Canton have made enquiries from the British Embassy office about the scope of the scheme, and the number of people affected by it, and they have made vague references to the provisions of the 1898 Poking Convention regarding compensation for anybody whose land should be taken from them.
C. B. B. HEATHCOTE-SMITH