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Powers for t: bencfia of Peking. Will the
provinces in the altered circumstances stand this?
Will it not provoke a direct attack on the customs
to be followed by a similar attack on the salt and
even on the whole system of extraterritoriality?
We are fully alive to the dangers of the proposed
change of policy which you rightly fear but is not
this a far greater dangerî If we are to abandon the
precent proposal you do not tell us how to guard against such a danger? Or do you consider we are
roatly overestimating danger? If so, give reasons so that we may finally decide whether or not to
pursue this idea further.
Further telegram follows giving our views at
greater length.
...