155
NANKING.
January 9th, 1930.
Mr. Law, of the Customs, called this morning, and
we had a telk on general customs matters, he stating that he
had called as the representative of Mr. Haze,
There were only two items that came up of real interest;
the first, the question of the Hong Kong Cuetons
greement.
18 regards that, Mr. Law took the line that Hong Kong had
been extremely reasonable in agreeing to the idea of the
conversion of the Colony into practically a Treaty Port
so far as custome mattere were concerned, as contrasted
with the Chinese attitude, which he seemed to think Father
unreasonable. On the assumption that what I caid might pert
colate through to Mr. Maze, I said that it seemed to me
entirely a question for one ong to judge on its
merits.
I could quito understand that the National Cove:nment might
be unilling to throw open the inland watere of the two
outhem Provinces to navigation by British-flag vessels
that was in harmony with their declared poliq regarding
inland water mavigation but it was equally dear that the
Chinese con.d not expect us to agree to any arrangement
limiting that right to one on: Chinese-flag vessels, The
conclusion I had therefore come to my eelf was that it
would be far better to drop any reference to this particular
matter if the Agreement wont any furthe.. It really came
to this: ae the proposed greement of sufficient advan-
tage to Hong Kong from the general point of view to make
it worth her while allowing the Customs to function in the
Colony?, or was it a matter where the advantage was co
small that it became a question of the Colony receiving
come special advantage in exchange for giving Ching an
agreement which she apparently wanted?