893.51/3234
The Minister in China (
Crane
) to
the Acting Secretary of State
Peking
,
December 7,
1920
.
[Received February 3, 1921.]
No. 594
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, as
of interest to the Department, copies of Circular No. 239 of the Dean of
the Diplomatic Corps, regarding translation of a note, which the Dean
has received from the Wai Chiao Pu, proposing that the usual deduction
of 13.7% from surplus Customs Revenue for the eventual use of the
South-Western Provinces should no longer be made.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps (
Pastor
) to the American Minister (
Crane
)
Peking
,
December 3,
1920
.
Circular No. 239
The Dean has the honour to circulate herewith to his Honourable
Colleagues translation of a Note dated the 2nd instant, which he has
received from the Wai Chiao Pu, proposing that the usual [Page 493] deduction of 13.7% from
surplus Customs Revenue for the (eventual) use of the South-Western
Provinces should no longer be made.
Don Luis Pastor85 is of the
opinion that, until unification of North and South is nearer
realisation, it would be premature to consent-to this proposal.
[Translation86]
In agreement with His Excellency the Dean
Maugras
87
I also agree
Rodrigues Alves
88
It seems to follow from the letter of the Wai Chiao Pu that the
Ministry of Finance has the intention of giving, or has already
given, to the Inspector General of Customs the instructions in
question without the previous assent of the diplomatic corps. I am
of the opinion that occasion should be taken in the reply which will
be given to this letter to call the attention of the Wai Chiao Pu to
this fact and to reiterate the principle that the Inspector General
may not receive instructions on the subject of the use of the
Customs Revenue before an agreement to that effect has been reached
between the Chinese Government and the diplomatic corps.
December 4, 1920.
[Subenclosure—Translation]
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs
(
W. W.
Ten
) to the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps (
Pastor
)
[
Peking
,]
December 2,
1920
.
Monsieur le Doyen: The Chinese Government
frequently makes an appropriation of the surplus funds of the
Maritime Customs and from each appropriation 13.7% has been deducted
by the Inspector General for the use of the Military Government of
the South-West. Now the Military Government of the South-West has
already been dissolved, as announced by Presidential Mandate
promulgated on the 30th day of the 10th month. Consequently whenever
the Chinese Government makes further appropriations of surplus
Customs Revenue the whole amount should be handed over to the
Ministry of Finance and the practice of deducting 13.7% should be
cancelled forever. The Ministry of Finance is instructing the
Inspector General [Page 494] to act
accordingly and it is my duty to address this Note for the
information of Your Excellency and to request you to bring the same
to the notice of the Ministers of the Powers interested.
[No signature indicated.]
