China says I Want to Go To Rio

With China wanting to go to Rio we look back at:
Australia During The War [1914-15
Metals
Some months after the commencement of the war, the attention of the Commonwealth Government, and especially of Mr. Hughes, was directed to the extent to which German firms had acquired a commanding influence over the base metals produced in Australia.

The reasons why German corporations had attained such influence in the metal market were twofold: first, the application of highly-trained scientific intelligence to the treatment of ores; and, secondly, skilful financial and commercial organisation, which was world-wide in its operations.

And later diplomatic discussions about:
Yampi Sound-Development Of Iron Ore Deposits By Japanese
Memorandum MELBOURNE, 6 December 1937
And again:
Yampi Sound Iron Ore
Memorandum 13 December 1937

Now we have China going to Rio.