Office of the Historian

893.51/5264: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, May 5, 1930—8 p.m.
[Received May 8—10:40 a.m.]

306. Legation’s 299, May 2, 5 p.m. Under instructions from the Inspector General the Commissioner of Customs at Tientsin on May 3 directed the Customs Bank to turn over to him balance of all customs funds on hand. The bank declined, pleading “force majeure”. The Commissioner of Customs is from today both assessing and collecting customs duties on behalf of the Central Government.

For the Minister:
Perkins