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I
593
at once technically unsound end politic-
ally disastrous. In anticipation of
the situation wnich nas now arisen the
policy of His Majesty's Government nas
hitherto been to induce the other Powers
to acquiesce under protest on condition
that the taxes were collected by the
Customs. This policy nas hitherto
failed and if the Powers snould finally
decide to adhere to their original inten-
tion of confining themselves to an agreed
protest His Majesty's Government will be
forced for obvious reasons to associate
themselves with such protest. But in
order even at this late hour to leave no
stone unturned to secure collection by
the Customs His Majesty's Government in-
tend simultaneously with such protest to
take separate action towards this end both
by public manifesto and by diplomatic
pressure