693.002/952
The American Embassy in Japan to the Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The Government of the United States has received information to the effect that a new régime sponsored by the Japanese forces in China may soon be established at Nanking; that it is planned that such new régime will offer to the Inspector General of the Chinese Maritime Customs a position similar to that which he now holds under appointment by the Chinese Central Government; and that should he refuse to accept that offer he would be prevented from further exercise of his present functions as Inspector General in Chinese territory under the control of the new Japanese sponsored régime.
It is the opinion of the Government of the United States that such action would constitute a serious disruption of the Chinese Maritime Customs. The American Government has repeatedly expressed to the Japanese Government its rightful interest in the preservation of the administrative integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs and it again earnestly requests that the Japanese Government refrain from action either directly through its own agencies or indirectly through the agencies of any Japanese sponsored régime in China tending to destroy the administrative integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs.