CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929 — Page 175

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Inspector General, was compelled to resign and

Mr. F.W. Maze was appointed substantive Inspector

General by the Nanking Government at the

beginning of this year have, I fear, inflicted a

mortal injury on the service.

It is very

generally believed in the Chinese treaty-ports

that Mr. Maze was appointed Inspector General by

the Nanking Government with the underlying object

that before long he should retire and make way for

a Chinese successor in that office, an appointment

which would definitely lead to the abolition of

the Foreign Inspectorate. This belief is much

strengthened by the statement made by

Marshal Chiang Kai-shek at Nanking on the 1st

instant according to the enclosed newspaper

cutting, to the effect that "within one year

China will be in a position to regain full

control of the Customs service", and that "the

complete control of the Maritime Customs would

finally break the economic bond which has

harnessed China for many years".

3.

If in a fit of folly the Foreign

Inspectorate of the Chinese Maritime Customs

were abolished, and if it were proposed by the

Nanking Government or any other Chinese

regional authority to replace the British

Commissioner of Chinese Maritime Customs and

his staff, now resident in Hong Kong, by

officials of Chinese race, it would (as I have

already informed you) become necessary for this

Government to insist on the removal of the Chinese

Customs House from this Colony.

In view of

Marshal