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Kwangtung Provincial Government, and ask the meaning of this
apparent change of front. As the regulations had already been
issued, there was nothing further which could be done. On
November 23rd Mr. Gibbs saw General Wu, who was clearly
anxious that the river should be kept open as far as possible,
and was obviously disconcerted at the sudden official
publication of these regulations at the instance of the
Pacification Commissioner. He explained, however, that it was
not intended to apply them strictly, that river steamers
-
-
all
of which would be debarred by their draught should the new
regulations be rigidly enforced would be permitted to come
up as usual, and that the regulations had been published because
the Chinese Authorities wished to have previous notice of the
arrival of foreign vessels. Mr. Gibbs, however, pointed out
that, although this might be the intention, the regulations
clearly stated that ships drawing more than seven feet would
not be permitted, and that, although the local authorities
might allow ships drawing more water even up to 13 feet as
suggested by the Chairman at this interview to come up to
Canton, now that the regulations were officially published the
Customs would be unable to let them go down again. Apparently
this particular aspect of the case had been overlooked, as the
Commissioner of Customs at Canton, Mr. L.K. Little, had
received no instructions further than that the regulations were
to be published. As a result of Mr. Gibbs' representations,
however, it was at once made abundantly clear to the Commissioner
that the local authorities did not intend the regulations to be
enforced so far as the limitation of the draught of vessels to
seven foot at low water was concerned, and Mr. Little
subsequently obtained the authority of the Inspector General of
Customs to apply the regulations in this manner.
4.
On hearing the above from Mr. Gibbs by telephone and
having/