Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East, Volume III

693.002/913: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, August 29, 1939—noon.
[Received August 29—8 a.m.]

514. Reference Shanghai’s 747, August 18, 5 p.m.,³ collecting of customs revenues in new currency. The Embassy has received a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under date of August 28, which, after outlining the arguments contained in Shanghai’s telegram under reference, goes on to say that repeated instructions have been issued by the Chinese Government prohibiting the collection of customs revenues in the “bogus” dollars and arbitrary changes in the value of the gold unit are illegal, that such action on the part of the Commissioner of Customs unit are illegal, that such action on the part of the Commissioner of Customs at Shanghai will constitute violation of the laws and ordinances, jeopardize the Customs Administration and cause financial disturbances that will be prejudicial to the interests of foreign and Chinese traders, and that a telegram has been sent instructing the Inspector General to investigate and stop the aforementioned activities. The note observes that this matter is of vital concern to the friendly powers and requests that the American Government take steps to check the attempts of the Commissioner of Customs at Shanghai to “jeopardize the Customs Administration and cause financial disturbances”.

A similar note has been delivered to the British and French Embassies.

The Embassy is acknowledging the note under reference, saying that the matter has been referred to the American Government.⁴

Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai. Shanghai please mail to Tokyo.

Johnson

3. Not printed.
4. The Chinese Embassy was orally informed on September 7 that “the Department had taken up with the Japanese authorities, through the American Embassy at Tokyo, the matter of customs collections at Shanghai.” (693.002/932)