693.002/485: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—10:55 a.m.]
84. Kung left by air for Hong Kong today. He has summoned Maze to meet him in Hong Kong. Arthur Young proceeds Hong Kong tomorrow. It is expected that customs matter will be discussed. Young is advising Kung against compromise on the ground that compromise begs the issue which is “will Japanese take customhouses and administration by force?” He believes Kung should instruct Commissioners of Customs to refuse to collect new tariffs established by Japanese fostered régimes, or to deposit collections with Yokohama Specie Bank at behest of Japanese, lest Chinese discover that they have transferred customs to Japanese or to regimes fostered by them.
Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai. Shanghai, please repeat to Tokyo.