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20
of the new taxes to tho Maritimo Customs, unless wo
wore prepared to hack our offer by some kind of threat
to resort to forcible measures, if it were refused.
He considered that the situation afforded every justi-
fication for such a threat. "The question is", he telegraphed, "are the principal Powers going to permit the Nationalist Party to ignore China's obligations incurred at Washington, to abolish the treaties, and to enforce immediate tariff autonomy, or are they prepared to put their foot down and insist, if necessary by force, on proper revision only by negotiation and agreement?" (Peking telegram to Foreign Office No. 392).
23. On the 28th October Mr. Brenan asked Comrade
Ch'en privately whether the Canton Government would still
like the Maritime Customs to collect the new taxes. But
Comrade Ch'en answered evasively that he would have to
consult the Political Council, Mr. Brenan thought that the Canton Government would be reluctant to give up
its om organization which was growing in strength; for
the "inspection corps" had already begun work and had searched Chinese and French ships and the new taxes
were being collected without much difficulty.
of assurances to the contrary he thought that the aim of the Canton Government was to destroy the power of the Maritime Customs, which hampered them in many ways. (Canton telegram to Foreign Office No. 52).
24
In spite
The position in Hong Kong by this time
caused so much anxiety that I again considered in Exec-
utive Council on the 28th October what advice I should
give you.
The situation at Canton was, in our opinion,
only superficially improved and we felt that anti- foreign manifestations, directed chiefly against our-
selves
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