CO129-575-15 Traffic of arms to China 24-1-1939 - 4-12-1939 — Page 84

81

Customs also receive written authority in advance from

the Ministry of Finance to pass the munitions accompanied

by lists, against which their stations are accordingly

able to check actual consignments. The motor road

is policed by Central Government Gendarmerie, whose

presence, in particular at Wanting, the frontier station,

is incidentally a gratifying source of confidence to the

Customs.

30 It is uncertain how long traffic on this highway

will survive the advent of the rains now due, but judging

from the fact that, as a result of such rain as has

already fallen this month lorries have been observed

temporarily out of action on the steep ascent between

Mangshih and Lungling and one at least went over the side

on the Salween approaches, it cannot be relied on much

longer.

40

I have already reported that the transport of

munitions by water to Bhamo and thence by mule via

Tengyueh during this season was in contemplation, (see my despatch No. 17 of 18th March), and that representatives of

the South West Transportation Company arrived here at the

end of April. They have now opened an office, the

"Tengyueh Pack Transport Control Bureau" (

), corresponding

to others between here and Yunnanfu, the head of which has

been negotiating with the local muleteers' guild for a

rate not exceeding Standard $30.00 (i. e. Yunnan $60.00)

per mule from Bhamo to Tengyeh and back to Bhamo, to come

into operation by 17th June and to be mai ntained for the

whole of the rainy season whereafter it would be reduced.

Further