(2).
310
government to assist in manner proposed unless he is
assured of material support of Powers.
3. If we tacitly acquiesce in levy of these
new taxes without our consent thereto being asked or
obtained we abandon our treaty rights in regard to
China's customs tariff and concede to local authori- ties or various provincial or regional governments right to levy what additional customs surtaxes they please. From this point of view it seems important
if we do decide to accept new taxes we should endeavour to do so by agreement with Canton govern- ment instead of tacitly acquiescing in their enforce- ment through egency of customs machinery.
4. If on the other hand we formally agree to levy new taxes as being in effect Washington surtaxes (grant of which is already four years over due) introduced in this irreguler way on account of absence of any Chinese government, our action will be equivalent to unconditional grant of Washington surtaxes and their surrender by customs to de facto Canton goverment and then as a logical consequence to all other local authorities & course of action which was advocated by you and objections were stated in last paragraph of my telegram No. 49
Conference.
5. I presume that other Powers would oppose such a course though it seems questionable whether they would proceed beyond paper protests in view of their tame acquiescence in exactions of Canton strike comditee and existing irregular taxes
(compare