693.002 Manchuria/17: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 24—7:44 a.m.]
130. Drummond has circulated the following telegram from the Chinese Government communicated to him by Yen:
“Despite the injunction of the Assembly’s resolution for the cessation of further aggravation of the situation Mr. F. W. Maze, Inspector General of the Customs, reports that through the puppet government in Manchuria the Japanese have been proceeding to seize the [Page 624] customs revenue in Manchuria appointing Japanese advisers and asking that the customs revenue be turned over to the puppet government. They also insist that all appointments to the customs staff in Manchuria and all tariff changes are to be submitted to the puppet government for decision. It is threatened that any refusal to comply will be met by outright seizure of the customs service. Thus the only remaining link of the Three Eastern Provinces with the rest of China is being broken with the following consequences:
- (1)
- While there is pretence at offering the payment of the Boxer Indemnity and foreign loan quotas there will be no payment allowed for meeting domestic loans charged on the customs.
- (2)
- The control of the customs service will have the effect of closing the open door in Manchuria not only to foreign trade but also domestic trade with the rest of China.
- (3)
- We have definite knowledge that the Japanese are arranging a customs union of the Three Eastern Provinces with Japan thus completely severing Manchuria from China and attaching it to Japan.”
Yen added that his Government would refuse to recognize the legality of such proceedings if carried out.