793.94112/298: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Myers) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 31—6:06 a.m.]
162. Referring [to] my 6, January 5, 6 p.m., and my 160, December 29, 4 p.m.,28 ultimate paragraph. According to information received from the Commissioner of Customs, the Japanese Consulate General advised him that the Pearl River will probably be opened within a few months for steamer commercial traffic during the daytime and suggested that the appointment of the Japanese staff referred to in the first telegram under reference be made; that the customs will be permitted to resume revenue collection functions at Canton but will be obliged to apply the new tariff which is in force at other occupied ports; and that the customs will not be permitted to function at Whampoa which will continue to be used for military purposes.
As a matter having no connection with the above it has been learned from the same source that the Japanese authorities are endeavoring to arrange with Hong Kong for the transportation of cargo between Hong Kong and Canton by Japanese river steamers now carrying passengers and that if the arrangement is made the vessels will immediately come under customs control.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong.
- Neither printed.↩