611.939/234: Telegram
The Consul at Swatow (Young) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:57 p.m.]
66. Referring to Department’s telegram No. 11, October 26, 7 p.m. to Swatow and my telegram No. 62, October 31, noon, regarding linen shipments. A third shipment has been made to Shanghai consisting of 1474 cases or 596 cubic tons valued at $4,800,000 Chinese national currency. An assessment of $500 per cubic ton was levied in addition to freight charges of $83 per ton making the total amount paid to Mitsui Busan Kaisha $347,000 all in Chinese national currency. As a condition to shipment exporters had to agree to sign a statement that they will pay $500 per ton on cargo exported as long as the port of Swatow remains closed, that such “contributions” were voluntary and that freight and transportation rates are reasonable and not exorbitant.
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai.