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“...in transit through Tongking, 20 per cent, of the " tarif
gdn^ral," it would seem probable that when a practical monopoly
has been secured to the Haiphong-Laokai route, imports will tend
more and more to be of French origin. The tendency is seen to be
actually in operation; 10 years ago 93 per cent, of the imports into
Meugtzu came from Hong-Kong and only 7 per cent, from Tong-
king. The figures for 1905 were 78 per cent, from Hong-Kong and
22 per cent, from Tongking.
Cotton yarn from Tongking mills increased by 1,836 piculs, and
though the import (5,903 piculs, or 7,027 cwts.) is still small com-
pared with that of Indian (79,211 piculs in .1905, or 94,299 cwts.),
its growth is significant. Eventually, unless communications are
very greatly improved between Burma and Yunnanfu, the yarn
required in Eastern Yunnan will all be supplied by Indo-China.
Next in value among the imports of 1905 figure "Munitions of
war," valued at 30,749/. These, as a matter of fact, were for the
most part explosives...”
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“...6
MENGTZU.
a market for all these things in Yunnan province if they could be
laid down at reasonable rates; they cannot, however, be so laid
down until the country has been opened up by means of railways
and of properly graded roads.
Especially fov Such remarks apply to manufacturers and merchants of all
Burma°m nations without distinction. As regards the present staple
import into Yunnan—cotton yarn—the Indian mills can only hope
to retain in the long run the trade of Western Yunnan as far as
Yungch'ang, unless the railway system of Burma is, as that of
Indo-China is being, by agreement with China extended to reach
this provincial capital (Yunnanfu); and it should not be forgotten
that it is not only the trade of Yunnan province that is at stake.
It is altogether certain that, sooner or later, a railway will connect
Yunnanfu with the great, populous and wealthy province of
Ssuch'uan. If, when that time comes, the only outlet of Yunnan
to the sea is the French railway from Haiphong...”
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