893.51/5280: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
459. Legation’s 448, June 16, 7 p.m. Following statement was made yesterday by Dr. Tchou, Marshal Yen’s representative in Peiping:
“The Tientsin customs question has been pending for over five weeks during which time every effort has been made for a peaceful solution. Marshal Yen has always objected to drastic action and [Page 238] declared time and again and also through me several times in our weekly interviews that he would not utilize the portion of the new increase of the customs funds he wanted to detain but simply to prevent its being remitted to the South to be utilized by his enemy. To prove the sincerity of his declaration he has even suggested that a committee be organized of Chinese and foreign bankers who shall have custody of the detained money. I on my part have also tried my best to obtain [a] satisfactory solution, and my friends, certain high foreign officials too have contributed personally their share of influence because they refuse to participate officially on account of the autonomy of the Chinese Customs Administration over which no foreign interference is permissible. However, owing to Mr. Bell’s obstinacy every effort at peaceful solution has failed and now Marshal Yen is compelled to take a more determined course of action. He has therefore appointed Mr. Lenox Simpson, adviser to the Grand Headquarters of the Commander in Chief of the National Army, Navy, and Aerial forces, to take over the Tientsin Customs Administration from the hands of Mr. Bell. The following telegrams are received from Marshal Yen which I now make public:
‘Dr. Tchou Ngao-hsiang, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs:—I have appointed Mr. Lenox Simpson adviser to act concurrently as Tientsin Customs Commissioner and also ordered Salt Commissioner Lu Chin-li to assist Superintendent of Tientsin Customs Mr. Ko52 and Mayor Tsui, etc., to be responsible in carrying out my orders in connection with the above appointment. We have no idea of destroying the Customs Administration. What we want is simply to attain our object, viz; to deposit the receipts from the new increase portion of the customs duties in the Bank of Communication[s] to prevent its being remitted to South to be utilized by the enemy for prolonging the war. I shall not utilize the funds in question in order to keep to my original desire. Please inform the foreign representatives and Mr. Simpson of my idea. (Signed) Yen, June 12th.’
‘Dr. Tchou Ngao-hsiang, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs:—Kindly transmit following to Mr. Simpson:
Have repeatedly notified the Tientsin Customs Commissioner Mr. Bell to stop remitting the receipts from the new increase portion of the customs duties to the South to be utilized for war purposes but so far he has not complied. It is now therefore necessary for me to remove him. I hereby appoint you to act concurrently as Tientsin Customs Commissioner. You are to proceed at once to the Tientsin customs house and to take charge of the Customs Administration and to report to me the manner in which you have effected this step. The receipts of the new increase portion of the customs duties are to be deposited as usual in the Bank of Communications none of which shall be remitted to the South in order to prevent the prolongation of the war. (Signed) Commander in Chief Yen, June 12th.’”