693.002/629: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—9:35 a.m.]
231. My 227, May 2, 4 p.m. Counselor [of] British Embassy has just permitted me to read communication which British Ambassador made to Generalissimo urging Chinese Government to accept or at least not oppose customs agreement. MacKillop asked me for an expression of my opinion of the agreement. I told him that I was not in a position to express any opinion officially but that personally, assuming as I had assumed, that the Japanese from the beginning had intended to take over the customs, this agreement would be interpreted as evidence of British acquiescence therein and of willingness on the part of the British Government to legalize Japanese capture of customs.
MacKillop stated that he had been instructed to ask me also whether I was in a position to take action with the Chinese Government similar to that taken by the British Ambassador. I stated that my answer to that was that I could not take such action; that thus far we had refrained from offering any advice to the Chinese as to what they should do in the matter; and that if asked by the Department for my views I would recommend against taking such action here. British Counselor stated that he had anticipated this reply, as he had all along understood my point of view.
He stated that in his interview with Kung latter had complained against British action in reaching an agreement with the Japanese without consulting the Chinese. I understand from British counselor that agreement is to be signed today.
Repeated Shanghai and Peiping. Shanghai please relay to Tokyo.