693.002/392: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:59 p.m.]
873. Department’s 334, October 23, 4 [7] p.m.96 British Embassy informs me that Commissioner of Customs by arrangement with the Japanese Consul General at Tientsin has begun deposit of customs collections at Tientsin and Chinwangtao with Yokohama Specie Bank leaving question of remittances to future settlement. He says that Commissioner of Customs reports that military at Tientsin are again restive and pressing for taking over customs so that it is doubtful whether arrangement which Commissioner has reached with Japanese Consul General will be continued. He informs me that he has had word from Tokyo that Japanese are considering proposal outlined in my 804 of October 13, 3 p.m., put forward by the Chinese. Situation is much confused. British Chargé d’Affaires believes that Commissioner of Customs at Tientsin exceeded his instructions in making deposits with Japanese bank without previous agreement regarding remittances. He assumes that Commissioner believed that he was accepting the original proposal of the Japanese military. We believe here that there is nothing to be accomplished further here. At the moment customs are functioning at Tientsin and Chinwangtao without interference from the Japanese.
- Not printed.↩