893.61331/195: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—3:20 a.m.]
20. Japanese authorities have given permits to the Universal Leaf Tobacco Company to purchase 1,500,000 pounds of tobacco in addition to that stipulated in the agreement signed December 8th (see my telegram 221, December 7, 3 [2] p.m.36). An additional amount has already been purchased by the company and shipped to Tsingtao. However, all tobacco buyers regardless of nationality are having great difficulty in obtaining railway transportation of tobacco which has been purchased at stations west of Fangtze. While the shortage of freight cars is generally known, there are some obscure factors in transportation situation west of that station which is a railway division point.
True reading by air mail to Tokyo, Peiping, Shanghai.