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Page 3 - Foreign - Neville - Article 4.

Suppose another company would like to deliver a shipment of gasoline from, let us say, Shanghai to Free China. It is noteworthy that the Japanese Navy has conveniently failed to occupy Ningpo, moreover, there is a creditable highway into the interior. After the proper negotiations, said shipment of gasoline will be allowed to go right through to Ningpo and the enemy under the very nose of the Japanese Navy. Squeeze rates are now more or less stabilized and I myself saw what purported to be a schedule of rates per ton charged for non-interference in shipments from Shanghai. 

Since sometimes there is jealousy between the Army and Navy, shippers have found it better to deal with one or the other, but rarely both, at a time. One exporter, for instance, thought he had clearance for one shipment right down the Yangtze. His arrangements with the Navy were perfect, but he overlooked an army commander near Shanghai and came near losing his entire cargo.

All this explains largely why big ports like Shanghai are still busy places and why, despite a nominal blockade, foreign business is still carrying on briskly in China. There are, of course, limits to what the Japanese will pass. It is improbable that they would let heavy artillery or high-speed bombers through, although sizeable shipments of military trucks have been delivered with ease. Recently the Japanese high command at Tokyo, apparently on to the proclivities of its lower-ranking officers, did a bit of shifting. I was assured, however, that all that meant was that new contacts would have to be made. Delay may be annoying, but never fatal.