793.94/2590: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:35 p.m.]
299. The Chinese representative addressed a letter to the Secretary General dated November 9 in which he discusses the seizure of the salt revenues and quotes a report on this subject by Dr. Frederick A. Cleveland, Associate Chief Inspector of Salt Revenues. The text of Dr. Cleveland’s report is as follows:
“We have received from our representatives at Changchun a telegram dated November 6:
[‘]Today all the funds of the Bank of China and of the Bank of Communications, Changchun, amounting to $2,600,000, were forcibly removed to the Bank of the Three Eastern Provinces, Changchun, by a transportation officer authorized by the Japanese military authorities. We protested in vain. The transportation officer formally notified us today that he cannot recognize the salt inspectorate.[’]
Therefore not only is Japanese denial of not having seized the salt revenue of Newchwang incorrect but the Japanese military authorities continue to seize the salt revenues elsewhere through agents created, directed and completely controlled by the Japanese military authorities themselves.”