What it Means to the Merchant Tentative Measures The following letter from the Tientsin+ manager of a prominent foreign firm gives a clear illustra~ tion of the dificult tion in jwwhich merchants and shipping firms in Tientsin were placed by the seizure of the Tientsin Custom..
The letter, which was dated June was in the following terms:
The Shansi faction have today. gathered together an indoor stuff of Chinese who attended at the Maritime Customs. office for purposes of learning the routine, and it is anticipated they wi commence functioning on Monday in which eae the advice of the American Consolato-General is that. application be made as usual.
ould the Citstoms House not be open for business on Monday, and during such time as the Customs remain eased for the transaction of public business, American yesso's will be cleared by the American Consulate and cargo me cepted by American vessels against a banker's kuarantes to the shipping company concerned that duty will be paid when payment is called for by the Customs.
In the event of Customs bein closed shipping firms propose assessing as closely a8 possible the amma' of duly, stich wool be levied were the Castons function normally. As it is impossible to estimate the amount of duty which may be levied on any particular shipment otherwise than according to the interpretation of the. tari by the shipping firms, which may ret from that of the Customs, they will require a guarantee from Thipper's in case of pre-paid shinments and from consignees in cases where Shipments go forward collet, that any ailditional duty assessed 5:7 Customs when. they recommence functioning, will be paid to the shipping firms on demand. The shipping firms will issue receipt in exchange acknowledging they are holding such fands in' trast und will refund any balance athich may remain after satisfying demands ut ports in Chia to which only British and Japane: vestals are operating, the prevent arrangements as. they effect the shipping firms are such that famishing a zoavantoo to the ship: ving company concerned that they will pay to then any duties they may at anytime be cath upon either to the Customs here in Shanghai, the shipping firms may lead "seth shipments without the formality of passing Customs he Wer vould" point. out to" vou that there is no doubt at all that the Cudtoms officials (treaty under control of they Nationtlint Government will elect on Importne tion all dues which Would ordinarily have" bien levied at Tientsin of a shipment from: this fealty. which arises in this connection is the possibility of the Shami faction. eventia by Winning cwt in thee fight against Nanking, forming their own ministration and endewouriny Collect from shippers here duties shipments exported under. the resent arvangoments. This. poste bility of shipments bing taties twice resolves itself into a certainty,—should shipments. assed" through" the. -Ciutons Sstablished Here. ty the Shu {setion when they commence public fussiness, "The risk is one (0 4 carried solely bythe owners of the shipments cmeerned, and £0.
shipping fins will require guarantee from. shippers t omission to pay export duties and dues at Tientsin abd undertaking: to reimburse. to them on demand of all sums which mu be assessed against the shipment by the customs authority at, Tientein, notwithstanding the £act that suck daties may have been. collected by Customs at the port of destination, in the event. of the shipping firms' being cal! upon by the customs authori established at Tientsin to pay such export duties and dues The shipping firms' will also require shippers to sign spectfie structions that shipments are 10 be forwarded, regardless of the possibility of their being called upon to bear duplicated taxation
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.