893.51/5292: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 22—6:30 a.m.]
481. Legation’s 480, June 21, 7 p.m. Following telegram is being sent to the Minister at Nanking:
“June 22, 1 p.m. For the Minister: Legation’s June 21, 6 p.m. Following telegrams have been sent to American Consul General at Tientsin:
‘June 21, 9 p.m. Your letter yesterday. Legation approves in detail of attitude taken by you under headings A and B. Pertinent portions of letter are however being referred by telegraph to the Minister at Nanking and to Department.’
[Page 244]‘June 22, noon. Legation’s June 21, 9 p.m.
- (1)
- Legation suggests that the interested Consuls might discuss situation presented by the failure of the Tientsin customs to function with a view to exploring the possibility of a uniform attitude being taken toward questions arising during nonfunctioning interval.
- (2)
- By your statement that “the port becomes to all intents and purposes a free port”, the Legation does not understand you to mean that ships and merchants are absolved from legal obligation to pay tonnage dues and duties prescribed in the Chinese tariff law but simply that the failure of the customs to function temporarily (as conceivably might take place through fire or other natural disaster) should not operate to stop the trade of the port and that the Consular authorities should not assume any responsibility in connection with collection of duties which is a responsibility belonging to the Chinese authorities alone.’”