Copy.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Shanghai Office of the
Inspectorate General of Customs,
21, Hart Road,
SHANGHAI.
21st October, 1929.
77
Dear Mr. Stephenson,
You are familiar with recent developments respecting
the proposed Anglo-Chinese Customs' Convention, and it is not necessary, therefore, for me to go over the ground
again. I considered it desirable, however, to acquaint
you by wire with the fact that both the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance informed me
to-day that they hoped the Agreement in its amended form
would satisfy Hongkong, and I have accordingly sent you
the following wire:-
"At interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs
"and Minister of Finance to-day hope was expressed
"that amended terms Agreements would satisfy Hongkong,
"thus obviate establishment stringent Customs Pre-
"ventive cordon in neighbourhood certain occasion con-
"stant misunderstanding friction irritation and pos-
"sible strangling of trade. Confidential: also inform
"Chinese Minister".
In a previous letter to you on the subject, dated
2nd August, I remarked that:
"Finally, it seems to me that unless Hongkong
"and China come to some sort of amicable understanding
"on questions of this nature, which intimately concern
J. W. Stephenson, Esquire,
LONDON.
both..