CO129-585-9 Sino-Japanese conflict- Chinese custom stations 14-7-1940 - 17-12-1940 — Page 54

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2.

Administration. They are hinting that if the Inspector General of Customs does not comply with their wishes they will make his position in occupied China untenable. There is a danger that if Wang Ching Wei regimé is

ecognised, the Inspector General of Customs may be alled on to make his submission, failing which Mr. Edwardes, at the time officiating as Inspector General of Customs now believed to be attached in some capacity to the Japanese Embassy in London will be appointed to Succeed Sir F. Maze in occupied China.

5. It is believed that determination of Japanese to secure control of the Office is intended in some way by the Japanese to be proof that conquest of China is complete, and that interference with established "order in Asia" will not be tolerated; speed is regarded as essential owing to fear that by the autumn we may be in a position to take stronger line in the Far East see my immediately following telegram.

Repeated to Washington telegram No. 7 and Tokyo, Chungking, Hongkong Saving.