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internal and external obligations, for constructive purposes and for urgent administrative expenses (Peking telegram to Foreign Office No.74 of the 14th January)
57. Sir F. Aglen arrived at Hankow on the 17th January and next day the labour unions made an attempt to kidnap the Dutch Commissioner of Customs in his own customs house, in order to compel the Inspector
General to comply with their extravagant demands.
The Commissioner was saved from actual assault by the
intervention of the Chinese Superintendent of Customs
and the southern Government expressed regret, but
admitted their practical inability to control the unions (Mr. O'Malley's telegram to Peking No.12 of
19th January).
58. At a meeting of the diplomatic body at
Peking on the 20th January all but the Japanese
Minister agreed to the unconditional levy of the Washington surtaxes (Peking telegram to Foreign
Office No. 139 of the 20th January). Next day Mr.
Liang Shih-yi had a long conversation with Sir M. Lampson, at the end of which he asked Sir Miles to use his personal influence with Sir F. Aglen to
undertake the collection of the Tashington surtaxes
through the Customs, as he was making difficulties. Sir Miles pointed out that, although we were pre-
pared to assent to these surtaxes, other Powers were
not; hence the Inspector General's difficulties. Mr. Liang replied that such difficulties could be
overcome; outwardly these Powers protested, but
privately
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