Canton, Jan. 19.
Maritime Customs officials here were reticent when questioned regarding the proposed taking over of the service by the Military Government.
A prominent foreign resident, when interviewed, stated that be feared that such action on the part of the Southern Government would call forth the disapproval of the leading Powers interested in the Customs Administration. Another well-informed foreigner expressed the opinion that in the event of a dispute between the Military Government, and the Customs authorities, the Customs staffs would move from Canton to Shameen, and that importers would pay the duties there Reuter.
In August 1918 when the Southwestern Federation Government tried to get hoid of the Customs funds, the British Consul-General said that, on
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.