BECOMING WORSE

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 May 1936, Page 7

BECOMING WORSE

SMUGGLING IN CHINA. STRONG PROTEST TO JAPAN. NO- STEPS TO CURB EVIL. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrtght. (Received May 20, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. The Sun-Herald says the Chinese smuggling situation is regarded in London as rapidly 'becoming worse. The Sino-Japanese breach is widening, endangering international relations, but the Japanese have taken no steps to curb the evil, merely again disclaiming responsibility and simultaneously insisting that the local customs be disarmed.

As a result it is impossible for officials to intercept smugglers, and meanwhile a clear profit accrues to Japanese trade, and the Chinese Central Government’s finances are threatened with imminent collapse.

Tlie Chinese Government, in a protest to Tokio, says Japanese and Korean smugglers have taken advantage of the serious impairment of the customs’ preventive services, and have employed large numbers of junks and motor-driven vessels for smuggling, while smuggled goods have been landed and transported without fear of seizure by tlie customs. Illicit goods have been taken southwards and dumped on various markets.

Japanese and Korean smugglers have attacked tlie customs officers with impunity, and have forcibly recovered goods from the customs. The Chinese asked Tokio to restrain the militarists, withdraw tlie protection which the Japanese and Korean smugglers enjoy, and immediately dissolve the companies which have been formed to carry out smuggling.