693.002 Manchuria/23: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 28—5:30 a.m.]
382. Following from American Consul General at Mukden:
“March 26, 3 p.m. Yesterday’s Japanese press reports that at a cabinet meeting at Changchun on March 24th it was decided (1) to retain for the present the existing customs system of the Chinese Republic together with the existing tariffs; (2) to remit monthly to the Inspector General, Shanghai, the portion of the customs receipts required for service of the foreign loans; and (3) to retain the surplus for the use of new government.
[Page 636]It appears that except for the retention of the surplus revenue the existing customs administration will not be interfered with for the present.”