22
-
collection of the new taxes to the Customs adminis-
tration, and that, as soon as it appeared that the
Cantonese favoured such an idea, a statement safe-
guarding our treaty-rights should be issued. It was
soon cvident that the diplomatic body did not ap-
prove of this proposal and that the Ministers were not prepared to give the necessary instructions to
their consuls at Canton. It was pointed out that,
wore we to approach tho Canton Governmont with such
a request, and wore the latter to agree before we had
lodged a protest against the illegality of the taxcos,
To should by consenting to their lovy by the Customs
and by the implication in accepting them recognize
their legality. There was also a general concensus
of opinion that in any case it was too lato, in view
of the creation of the "inspection corps and other
machinery for collecting tho now taxes at Canton, to induce the Canton Government by moans of ropresonta-
tions through the consular body to dissolve this
organization and cntrust the collection to the Customs.
It was further the unanimous view of Sir R. Macleay's
colleagues that a formal protest should in any caso bo
made, and that we should thon await its offcct boforo
considering what, if any, further action should bo
takon. The form of protost was, therefore, redraftcd
ad referendum to the Poors concerned and on the
understanding that the protest would be simultaneously
addrossed, not only to the Canton Government, but also
to the Shan-tung authorities and to the Wai-chiao-pu
in such terms as to cover both the Canton and the
**
Tsingtao
132