CO129-499-2 Canton situation- governor's despatches 15-1-1927 - 4-2-1927 — Page 86

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ENCLOSURE NO. 6.

86

(Extract from Kwok Man San Man, Canton, 6th January, 1927)

Japanese Ambassador bases his opposition against surtax

of 21% on the ground of the Washington Conference.

Opinion of the Japanese Ambasador Yoshizawa.

At the Conference of the Diplomatic Corps held on the

18th., the British Ambassador proposed the recognition of

the Chinese surtax of 21%. As a result of the Conference,

the various ambassadors, as we learn, wired to the Govern-

ments of their respective countries, asking for instructions.

Now the Japanese Ambassador has raised objections to the proposal. According to information given by the Tin Tung

She (Telegraphic News Agency), after a meeting in the Foreign

Office, the Prime Minister Shidehara had directed the Am-

bassador by wire to raise strong objections to the surtax proposal of the British Ambassador. The Japanese Government

desires to adhere to her former policy and have the surtax

question settled at the Customs Conference or by a Sino-

Japanese Commercial Treaty.

The Japanese Ambassador Yoshizawa told the reporter of

the Agency at a conversation on the 21st. as follows:-

"At the Conference of the Diplomatic Corps on the 18th

the British Ambassador raised a serious question, which

I am not in a position to tell you before it is publish-

ed in England, as I must give due respect to internation

al good faith. I have made a detailed report of the

question to my Government, and I trust that the other

Ambassadors have also asked their respective Governments

for instructions. When they have all got instructions,

they will proceed to discuss the question on the basis

of the opinions of their respective Governments, but be-

fore any formal discussion is held, the Ambassadors may exchange opinions first. After all, since the question

is