3.
customs collections: this, to my mind, means in effect complete foreign control over the whola customs revenues, latent indeed but none the less real.
5. You argue that our fears are exaggerated, that there is no objection in the provinces to use of customs revenues for debt consolidation or to maintenance of control over customs revenues for this purpose; in order however to validate this argument you are compelled to treat Canton as an exceptional case. But surely Canton is the crux of the whole situation. It is common ground that Canton quite apart from any question of Bolshevist propaganda will refuse to permit surtaxes to be used for debt consolidation; but you do not explain how in a treaty aiming at a comprehensive and lasting settlement with China exceptional treatment can be reserved for Canton, Are there sound reasons for such exceptional treatment and for the belief that the Canton attitude will not be copied in other centres? If so you should explain them fully, bearing in mind that a solution of the Canton problem is a matter of paramount importance to British interests in China.
6. You point out that there are grave objections to leaving local customs collections
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