CONFIDENTIAL.
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SAFE
HAND
BRITISH EMBASSY,
CNDARDHINO.
50
No.1104 (126/47A/1938) Copies sent to:
Tokyo No. 515 Shanghai
454
Commercial Counsellor
My Lord,
SHANGHAI, 30th December, 1938
1302
| MAP 1939
In the last paragraph of my despatch No. 940
(122/47A/1938) of November 12th last, I promised a report
on the subject of the smuggling of Japanese goods into
the Shanghai area.
2.
Information has been far to seek, and enquiries
made of the British Chamber of Commerce have produced
little or no result.
3. The local British Customs officials believe
that practically all Japanese commercial cargoes coming
into Shanghai itself are now paying the proper duties.
There is however, even now, a considerable amount of
cargo stored in the godowns and on the wharves under
Japanese control on the north side of the Soochow creek,
which was smuggled in to Shanghai before the Customs
regained their control over Japanese ships and cargoes
when the revised tariff was introduced in June last.
The Customs have made every effort, by watching the
transportation of cargo over the creek, to prevent this
cargo being smuggled into the other areas of Shanghai,
and have secured various convictions against Chinese in
the District Court in this connexion. But it is probable
that in some cases their vigilance may have been eluded.
That there is still much of such cargo left is proved by
/the
The Right Honourable
Viscount Halifax, K. G., G.C.S.I.,
etc.,
etc.,
etc.,
FOREIGN OFFICE.
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