893.51/5303: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
505. Legation’s 500, June 25, 6 p.m. Following telegram has been sent to the Minister at Shanghai:
“June 26, 5 p.m. For the Minister: Legation’s June 25, 6 p.m. Following from American Consul General at Tientsin in mail despatch June 25:
‘At a meeting of the Consular Body held this morning the British Consul General mentioned that his Legation on Monday last had made representations to Nanking that under article 25 of the treaty of Tientsin import duties and export duties are payable at Tientsin on Tientsin cargo.
The French Consul is very positive in his position that the consular representatives cannot do otherwise than accept the existing situation and recognize the officiating customs regime.
The general opinion is that if a uniform stand is taken at Tientsin, supported by the Ministers and accompanied by firm representations to Nanking, the National Government may be induced to consider compromise proposals such as those repeatedly made of re-installing the regular customs staff under a Commissioner acceptable to both the Northern faction and Nanking and depositing surplus revenue in Tientsin banks pending the outcome of the present conflict.
In my opinion the situation would likely be solved if the interested Governments could agree to make joint or identic representations to the National Government, insisting (1) that, with the action of the National Government in closing the customs at Tientsin and abandoning fiscal control of the port, the powers must of necessity advise their nationals to deal with the functioning customs regime set up at the port by the authorities there exercising the functions of government; (2) that, under the existing treaties, import and export duties are payable at the port where the cargo is discharged or loaded; and (3) that customs dues and duties having once been paid in accordance with the treaty requirements in Shanghai they may not be imposed a second time at some other port.
I believe, and it seems to be the general opinion of my colleagues, that such action on the part of the powers would do much to induce the National Government at Nanking to accept a compromise satisfactory [solution] with the Northern faction which would reestablish the Tientsin customs in proper hands and provide some means [simply] for the sequestration of the surplus revenues until the solution of the present political crisis.
British colleague stated this morning that according to his reports from Shanghai all hope of inducing the National Government to accept a compromise has not yet been abandoned, it being stated that T. V. Soong has apparently shown some inclination to consider the matter and bring it to the attention of the Government provided a proper formula can be agreed upon, differing somewhat but not materially from the proposal of the Shansi faction.’”
- Telegram in two sections.↩