693.94244/39: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:12 p.m.]
268. Embassy’s 265, May 28, 4 p.m.1
1. There is no evidence that measures of the National Government are effecting any decrease of smuggling in North China. According to a Reuter report which is said by the Consulate General at Tientsin to be correct, 150 Koreans ejected Chinese passengers from several third class coaches of a train of the Tientsin–Pukow Railway on May 27 at Tientsin and themselves entered the coaches with 552 bales of smuggled rayon which they carried as personal baggage. This action was presumably taken to avoid possibility of difficulties from lack of customs documents covering goods shipped by rail out of Tientsin. Japanese police on the scene made no effort to interfere. The Japanese authorities in North China apparently have no intention of rendering that assistance which is necessary for effectively checking smuggling by Japanese nationals. Nor can it be anticipated that railway officials at Tientsin will cooperate with other Chinese authorities in attempting to prevent smuggling.
The local Japanese Assistant Military Attaché informed the press this morning in reply to a quotation [question?] that the Japanese are not pressing Sung Che Yuan to establish a customs service independent of Nanking.
By mail to Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩