693.0023/60: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 7—10:55 a.m.]
345. The Legation is reliably informed that a Chinese customs office will be opened about the middle of August at Kupehkow near the [Page 235] Great Wall and that subsequently preparations for opening customshouses at five other passes will be made; the primary purpose is to prevent smuggling. It is anticipated that revenues will be unimportant because poor transportation facilities render commerce under the passes of the Wall other than at Shanhaikuan difficult. No export duty will be levied and import duty will be charged only on goods not of Manchurian origin in order to indicate that Manchuria is still a part of China.