58.
"First, this removal from office arises from tho fact that it is a physical impossibility for the Inspector General of Customs to carry out the ordered levy upon foreign imports of certain Governments, which do not rest upon a treaty basis, and to which
not all the Governments concerned have given their
consent. The attempt to execute such an order would constitute a danger to the very existence and func- bioning of the Customs administration, thus affecting the trade of all countries and impairing the security
of China's contractual obligations. This danger ren-
ders it vital alike in the interests of China and of
foreign nationals that the above order be rescinded or recast, and the diplomatic representatives above mentioned find themselves obliged to urge that this
be done.
"Secondly, they wish to recall to mind the
declaration made by the Chinese delegation to the Tashington Conference "that the Chinese Government
have no intention to effect any change which may
disturb the present administration of the Chinese
Maritime Customs'. The sudden removal from office
of the present Inspector General of Customs for failure to execute an order impossible of execution clearly involves such a disturbance as was guarded against by the declaration. There is, therefore,
no option but to hold the Chinese Government to
their word and to urge that no such disturbance be
created by the removal from office of a tried Govern-
ment
168