it CUSTOMS
May The reported attempt on the Northern party to deer an essential portion of the Tientsin Maritime Customs revenue obviously raises question of more than local interest, and it is appropriate to outline briefly a few points for consideration. Sir Robert Hart's knowledge of Chinese psycho: logy caused him to organize and build up the Customs on corta fixed principles from which he never departed and the adhe: ence to which kept the Ser out of polities during his tenure of office—a main feature of his At policy was that the control of var[fB¢ Fevenue remained in the hands of the Chinese Governjs{ment. And seeing that Protocol and Loan Agreements have confirmed this principle, that China's credit at home and abroad is solely dependent upon the strict adherence to it, there can be no doubt whatever that any attempt on the part of noi Central Government, authorities (whether such authorities recognized belligerents, de fuct Governments or merely military adventurers) to split the Maritime Customs into separate revenue-collecting agencies, will not merely ruin China's' credit (and therefore her good name and prestige) abroad, but will cause financial disaster in Chi and ruin hundreds of thouse of Chinese creditors who invested millions in loans sec ed on the Customs on the explicit understanding that the a ministration of these loans remains undisturbed in the Inspec for-General's hands and outs' of Party polities. 'The Chines' bankers—whose reserves are mainly composed of loans secur ed on the Customs—share' this view and they have, therefor lodged strong protests against General Yen: Hsi-shan's alleged intention to raid the Tientsin revenue and thus wreck Chi credit and ruin innumerable Chi nese Investors.
It is difficult to understand that an administrator with General Yen's high reputation can sed of Page 212.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.