[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
134
From CHINA
De cypher.
Mr. Aveling (Peking).
November 22nd 1930.
D. 12.50 p.m.
November 22nd 1930.
R. 9.00 a.m.
November 22nd 1930.
No.714.
Following received from Canton:-
Addressed to Peking No.62 of November 19th,
repeated to His Majesty's Minister Nanking, Hongkong
and Shanghai.
Confidential.
Customs agreement.
On November 5th press reports that at fourth
plenary session at Nanking General Chen Ming-shu strongly opposed conclusion of new agreement, advocated instead
extra-customs stations in Chinese territory, and urged
speedy completion of new port of Chungshan.
Superintendent of customs at Canton who had
supported agreement told commissioner that he intended
to maintain his attitude and that he thought Chen Ming-shu was being influenced by Tang and Sun Fo who are chief promoters of Chungshan port scheme. Attitude
of these two is perhaps to be explained as a retaliation against action of T.V. Sung, when recently at Hongkong, in instructing Inspector General of Customs to levy duty on all goods entering and leaving Chungshan port
which procedure is being carried out on same basis
as a treaty port.