THE CHINESE CUSTOMS

Evening Post, Volume 148, Issue 148, 20 December 1923, Page 6

THE CHINESE CUSTOMS

At first glance it appears strange that the foreign Powers should withstand any attack Sun Vat Sen should make upon the Chinese Customs at Canton. The cablegrams suggest that there is something in the nature of a naval demonstration in the river approaches toi Canton, and that a French detachment of sailors has landed at the Shameen, occupying the French Post Office building. The fact is the Chinese Maritime Customs service is intimately associated with foreign interests in China. It was,founded in 1854, and its most distinguished head was the late Sir Robert Hart, than whom the Chinese never had a better friend, a more faithful and able servant. The personnel of this great service is composed of the most carefully selected Chinese and Europeans and Americans, generally of high character and special attainments. One branch of the Maritime Customs' activities is the maintenance of the excellent lighthouse service on the China Coast, and everything connected with the navigation of the chief seaports. For sixty years it has been the only stable institution in China, and the most honest and businesslike collector of revenue for the Chinese General Government. The revenues were honestly administered in the interests of the Chinese themselves. Besides this, they form in large part the security for foreign loans to China. Sun Vat Sen has threatened to tamper with the Customs revenue at the port of Canton. If he does it is difficult to see how the foreign Powers interested can well stand aside while ducks and drakes are being made of a service so vital to the Chinese themselves and to the large foreign interests involved. It is to be hoped that the Powers .concerned will not be drawn intoNv^at is a domestic matter, as between the Sun Vat Sen party and that representing the Pekin Government. Violence, however, done to the Customs by a blow inflicted on Canton wjiiy be felt thvouithout the .whole of China, with aeriom results.