693.002/960: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 6—9:18 a.m.]
15. The death occurred recently of the British subject serving as Coast Inspector in charge of the important Marine Department of the Chinese Maritime Customs which controls the lighthouse, preventive [Page 716] and harbor services throughout China. The next ranking officer in the department is Captain F. L. Sabel, a naturalized American citizen of Finnish birth who has served some 25 years in the department. Inspector General of Customs40 directed the promotion of Sabel to head the department. The Japanese chief Secretary of the Customs whose duty it is to issue the order of appointment has withheld doing so, indicating that the Japanese authorities desire the appointment of a Japanese to the post, and I am reliably informed that Japanese officials have approached the Inspector General of Customs insisting upon appointment of a Japanese outside of the service but Inspector General has declined to agree, insisting that Sabel is the logical man by training, experience, efficiency and seniority to head the department.
In a personal conversation this morning with Kato, Japanese Minister at Large, I mentioned to him that I had just received a report that the Japanese authorities were interfering with the appointment in question and am proceeding to verify the facts and if the report is correct he will realize that the matter is one of much concern to us as involving the integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs in which the American Government has repeatedly expressed its interest. Kato said he had no information but would look into the matter.
I trust that this unofficial and friendly approach to Kato may be effective, but, if not, I am disposed to recommend that the Department and Embassy at Tokyo take action. The facts are as outlined in the first paragraph of this message. If the Japanese pressure persists, the Inspector General of Customs will probably report the situation to the interested foreign representatives. It is of the utmost importance to all foreign interests that the Marine Department of the Customs remain under competent and disinterested direction.
Repeated to Tokyo, Chungking and Peiping.
- Sir Frederick Maze.↩