693.002/809
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government have been informed that the Inspector General of Customs in China has received confidential and reliable information to the effect that when the new puppet government is set up by Wang Ching-wei, it will officially appoint him Inspector General of Customs for service in the occupied areas and will appoint someone else if he declines to serve in this capacity.
It is understood that the Inspector General of Customs has conveyed information of this unofficial Japanese demand to the United States Consul General in China and also to the French Ambassador in China.
His Majesty’s Embassy has now been instructed to ascertain the views of the United States Government as to the advisability of parallel representations being made at Tokyo against the action contemplated which would of course involve a flagrant violation of the integrity of the customs. A similar enquiry is being made of the French Government.