OOPY.
NANKING.
13th December 1952.
73
My dear Maze,
Many thanks for your letter of November 9th regarding two recent cases in which British interests have come into
conflict with the Customs.
with regard to the Amoy case it is clear that the com- plainant did not put H.". Consul in possession of all the facts
and I do not wish to say more about this than that I am having the precedents to which you refer investigated: I must admit
that they are now to me.
With regard to the Tientsin case, however, I must return to the charge. I feel you have missed my point for you say that the shipowners were fined on the ground that the terms of their Annual Guarantee in not preventing the shipment of contraband had been violated. May I reiterate that the shipowners do not under- take under the terms of their Annual Guarantee to prevent the shipment of contraband. They only bind themselves (1) to order the ship's officers not to allow contraband to be taken on board, (2) to see that any person employed in connection with the
steamer who does or who aida or abeta or who does not prevent
any action detrimental to the Chinese revenue shall be suitably punished, and (3) to produce the Master in Court if charged with contravention of any treaty rule or regulation and to pay any fine to which he becomes liable. In the case in point the Company have complied with the terms of (1); they are ready and anxious to comply with (2) if they can lay their hands on the oulprit; and as no charge has been made against the Master (3) does not apply. I must say that I cannot see in what way they have violated the terms of their Annual Guarantee.
(STONED) 5.1.2. INORAM.
Sir Frederick V. Maze, ..E..
Inspector General,
Chinese Maritime Customs,
SHANGHAI.