CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926 — Page 128

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collection of the new taxes to the Customs adminis-

tration, and that, as soon as it appeared that the

Cantonese favoured such an idea, a statement safe-

guarding our treaty-rights should be issued. It was

soon cvident that the diplomatic body did not ap-

prove of this proposal and that the Ministers were not prepared to give the necessary instructions to

their consuls at Canton. It was pointed out that,

wore we to approach tho Canton Governmont with such

a request, and wore the latter to agree before we had

lodged a protest against the illegality of the taxcos,

To should by consenting to their lovy by the Customs

and by the implication in accepting them recognize

their legality. There was also a general concensus

of opinion that in any case it was too lato, in view

of the creation of the "inspection corps and other

machinery for collecting tho now taxes at Canton, to induce the Canton Government by moans of ropresonta-

tions through the consular body to dissolve this

organization and cntrust the collection to the Customs.

It was further the unanimous view of Sir R. Macleay's

colleagues that a formal protest should in any caso bo

made, and that we should thon await its offcct boforo

considering what, if any, further action should bo

takon. The form of protost was, therefore, redraftcd

ad referendum to the Poors concerned and on the

understanding that the protest would be simultaneously

addrossed, not only to the Canton Government, but also

to the Shan-tung authorities and to the Wai-chiao-pu

in such terms as to cover both the Canton and the

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Tsingtao

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