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2.
Customs, has always been considered by His Britannic
Majesty's Legation as basic and it is on those
officials that the duty of checking amıggling primar-
ily resta.
In this connection I desire to draw atten-
tion to your letter of the 6th instant, addressed to
Messrs. Jardine Matheson and Company Limited, copy of
which has been sent to me by that firm, in regard to
the recent seizure of salt on the 3.5. "Kwaisang.
I understand that the ship was searched by
members of the Yangtaze Freventive Service search
party ho went on board without any authority from
this office in spite of the fact that only a day or
two previously I had warned Mr. Harmon on this point,
and it is my duty to lodge a strong protest against
their action in doing so.
In regard to your proposal that Messrs.
Jardine Matheson and Company should pay you a fine of
$1,325.00, I cannot recognize the claim of any Chinese
Government Department to inflict a fine on a British
ship, such action being solely within the competence
of His Majesty's Courts in China.
In view, However, of the fact that I am
anxious to do all that I can to assist in putting a
stop to this illicit trade I am auggesting to Mis
Majesty's Minister that approval should be given to an
arrangement whereby members of your search party, who
should be under the charge of a foreign member of
your staff would be permitted to search British ships
provided that - and this is an essential proviso
they/