'The' following is a translation from the Chinese press of a mani festo addressed, it is said, by the Chinese staff ' of the Maritime Customs, to foreigners coneern-
"The. Nationalist Government in Nanking, working in the interests of the Chinese people, on July 23 announced that, as from September 1, 1027, likin will be abolished and 'Customs autonomy willie enforeesl.. 'This is a matter with which we' Chinese members of the Customs stof are firmly in concord. For 80 years, we Chinese have been under the bondage of the foreign Imperialists and their guns and we are now being released from these 80 years of bondage. China's Customs claim to autonomy is.but in accordance with the principles of international peace, "We Chinese people of all classes) are one in firmly supporting the Nationalist Government,—beeause hitherto we have been'under bad governments and the administration of the militarists and have only been compelled work and we dared not express our views. We Chinese members of the Customs staff are prepared support the Nationalist Govern ment, "As the policies of the Imperialistic Governments are likened unto a person under chloroform, we issue this warning: If foreign: ers wish to do business in China and if they want the Chinese Duy from them, they must give up the idea of forcing the Chinese people to oppose them. If they' want the Chinese to oppose them, then their business will be thrown into a very precarious position. All, including foreigners, must support the policy of the Nationalist Government. If foreigners wish to continue friendly rel: with the Chinese people and desire to assist in the preservation of international pedee and to uphold a policy of fairplay and justice, they must realize that the Chinese people have awakened from a long dream. After their awakening, the se people are no longer like grains of sand. The Chinese now have a fighting spirit and are prepared to fight the policy of right over might.' If the Chinese people do not attain their aims, they will never give up. They are prepared to sacrifice everything. We pity the countries who believe in an aggressive policy and who! maintain hearts of poison. We. appeal to them not to imisunderstand the trend of events and break up the peace of the world. We hope all will assist in the fight for right and justice. We, on our part, will fight always to uphold the, Nationalist policy."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.