793.94112/326: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:10 p.m.]
84. Department’s 43, January 27, 2 p.m., to Shanghai. Reopening of Yangtze. At the request of the British and French Ambassadors, I met with them yesterday and the French Ambassador said that he had received a telegram from his Foreign Office directing that he consult with his British and American colleagues in Chungking with regard to the advisability of suggesting to the Chinese Government the desirability of acquiescing in facilitating maritime customs offices at Chinkiang and Nanking in order to facilitate the opening of the Yangtze to navigation, or at least of “closing its eyes to the proceeding.” The Ambassador said that he was informed the Inspector General had already asked permission of the Chinese Government to agree to the reopening and he pointed out that if the Chinese Government refused to acquiesce the Japanese would probably open these offices themselves and that this would be prejudicial to the integrity of the customs administration. The British Ambassador remarked that the danger was that the Japanese would insist on placing many additional Japanese in the administered offices and that this was what the Chinese Government feared. He said that he had talked with the Chinese Minister of Finance55 on this subject last November and Dr. Kung had been extremely emphatic in his opposition to the reopening of the offices under Japanese auspices. The British Ambassador also said that he had received under date of February 12 a telegram from his colleague in Tokyo56 stating that the latter had consulted Ambassador Grew who had informed him that the position of the American Government was that it was interested in the integrity of the Chinese maritime customs but did not wish to advise the Chinese Government to follow any specific course of action. I observed that this had always been the attitude of the American Government, but that I would refer to the Department the particular proposal made by the French Ambassador. Does the Department desire that this office in communication with the two Ambassadors add anything to the important points expressed in the telegram under reference?
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai; Peiping please mail to Tokyo.