893.51/5282: Telegram

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

465. Legation’s 462, June 18, 3 p.m.55 Following from Reuters, Shanghai, June 17th:

“T. V. Soong, Minister of Finance, has made the following statement:

‘The forcible seizure of the Tientsin custom[s] by agents of the militarists constitutes a serious blow to the national credit, endangering [Page 240] all future plans for financial rehabilitation as well as existing foreign and domestic obligations secured on the customs.

Colonel Hayley Bell has maintained the best traditions of the service in refusing to allow the disruption of the integrity of the customs. Steps are however being taken which will insure the collapse of this phase of the militarists’ adventure very shortly.

This desperate act of the Northern faction in trying to destroy the only possible instrument of the national credit is a sufficient refutation of their own claim that they would very shortly be able to overthrow the National Government and establish a government of their own.’”

For the Minister:
Perkins
  1. Not printed.