693.002/1073: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
1452. Reference Shanghai’s 1081, October 14, 2 p.m.58 Chinese Maritime Customs. Following is summary of a letter dated December 30 received from Inspector General of Customs: Nanking regime is striving to secure similar control of surplus customs revenue in occupied China, but Inspector General has declined to accede to demands made in this connection. He has also declined to acknowledge official communications from the regime, although he has expressed willingness to make informal acknowledgment, when necessary, in English. Inspector General pointed out, however, that he cannot be expected to continue functioning here unless he is permitted to establish informal contact with the de facto authorities regarding customs affairs. He added that the alternative would be for him to withdraw to free China [Page 727] which would almost certainly result in disruption of the service and assumption of direct control over the customs by Nanking.
Sent to Department, repeated to Chungking.
- Not printed.↩