OIL MONOPOLY IN MANCHUKUO

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 11

OIL MONOPOLY IN MANCHUKUO

PROTESTS DISREGARDED REVISED TARIFF ALSO IN FORCE SHANGHAI, November 14. Disregarding protests made by Great Britain, America, and Holland, the Manchukuo Government to-day declared an oil monopoly, by which the Government will control all importation, supply, and distribution of oil and fix by law the price of all petroleum products. The revised Manchukuo tariffs, which were promulgated to-day and will be effective from November 22, imposed a levy of 37 \ cents a picul on all imports of Australian wheat and flour, which hitherto entered free. [Protests to the. Japanese Government against the proposal to establish an oil monopoly in Manchukuo were based on Article 111. of the NinePower Treaty, by which the powers agreed: (1) "Not to seek or support any arrangement which might establish in their favour any general superiority of rights with regard to commercial or economic development in any designated region of China." (2) "Not to seek any such monopoly as would deprive any other power of the right of undertaking any trade or industry in China, or of participation with the Chinese Government, or with any local authority in any public enterprises, or which is calculated to frustrate the practical application of the principle of equal opportunity."]