[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
409
23223
Rec [May 128] JUL 10
SECTION 1,
[15267]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to China Association.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Foreign Office, May 11, 1910. I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant on the subject of the Chinese Imperial maritime customs.
With regard to the edict of the 9th May, 1906, by which the office of the inspector-general was placed under the direction of the Revenue Council, it will be within the recollection of the China Association that on the 1st June of that year the Chinese Government definitely informed His Majesty's Government that the edict made no change in the method of administration of the customs laid down in the Loan Agreements of 1896 and 1898.
No specific instances of interference on the part of the Revenue Council with the inspector-general have so far been brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government.
With regard to the powers and authority of the new acting inspector-general, Sir E. Grey fully concurs in the view of the association, that it is important that Mr. Aglen should have the same control over the personnel and internal administration of the customs service as was formerly exercised by Sir Robert Hart. As, however, no evidence has been adduced to show that the Chinese Government intend to curtail the powers of the inspector-general, it would not be desirable to provoke a discussion on the point which a premature request for further assurances would be certain to raise.
The question is, however, being carefully watched.
[2751 -1]
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.