CO129-585-5 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 3-1-1940 - 25-8-1940 — Page 42

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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.