§ 1. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give any information as to the hardship on British shipping owing to the imposition by the Manchukuo customs of tonnage dues on British and other steamers using the ports of Antung and Newchang since 25th September, 1932, at the rate of 40 Chinese customs tael cents per ton, this being the same rate as that which the Chinese customs collect for the whole of China with 32 ports?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)I am not in a position to give any figures of the amount of the additional burden imposed on British shipping though I have been informed of an estimate made by one firm of shippers of the cost to 310 them if no changes are made. I understand that the general question of these charges is under consideration by the authorities in Manchuria.