693.002/624: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 2—8:50 a.m.]
227. Arthur Young informs me that today British Embassy communicated text of customs agreement to Chinese Minister of Finance with summary of accompanying documents urging Chinese Government to accept or at least not oppose agreement as otherwise Japanese threaten to take over Chinese customs in occupied areas as of May 3rd whereupon Chinese will find themselves with Customs Administration in Japanese hands and used for Japanese purposes.
Chinese Government have communicated by telegraph to London, Paris and Washington objections to the implementing of agreement and reservations of rights should agreement be put into effect by British and Japanese without consulting Chinese. These instructions in two telegraphic instructions will doubtless be communicated to you by Chinese Ambassador in Washington.
Repeated to Shanghai and Peiping. Shanghai please relay to Tokyo.