793.94/9728: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 27—10:55 a.m.]
583. I understand that plans exist for withdrawing Chinese revenue organizations such as the Customs and Salt from the treaty ports to interior points in event of loss of such ports to the Japanese. Such withdrawal, of course, would leave the Japanese free to create their own organization, while if the existing foreign directed organizations remained on the spot, it might be possible so to arrange that they might serve to protect the important foreign trade interests and loan obligations that are involved.
Sent to Nanking. Repeated to Department.