And it is well to remember that uring the past five years civil wars fand the disturbed mate of the coun try frequently interrupted the normal functions of the Customs fand threatened the integrity of the Bervice in certain districts. During this period, moreover, many" im= portant developments. inthe Ad ministration have "occurred—tarift Autonomy, for example, has been Introduced and "the" revenue has risen from "$128,274,057 in 1028 to $048,480,291; the "Chinese Staff have been placed on a higher plane and are nov eligible for the senior posts; and the Chinese character of the Serviee—which seems for a time to have been shaken—has "been restored. But these changes have Drought with them additional responsibilities—the higher duties have naturally resulted in an enor mous increase of smuggling, and to cope with this a Preventive Department is in course of development and about a dozen revenue cutters are under construction considerable. progress has already been made, but with. Dairen in the North, Formosa in the East," and Hongkong, "Macao and 'Kwangchowwan in the South, our task is formidable one. And here, again, Wwe are indebted to Dr. Soong' for his encouragement and support view, therefore, of Dr. Soong': conspicuotis services' to the State, ig'a matter of serious concern for the Chinese people that "he feels Rimself constrained to retire from the notable position which he has held for so long a period, and in which he' hag achieved. eminence; bat we are glad to" reflect that he has been induced to remain a men ber of the National Economic Coun: ell, and that the Government. Will this'retain his valuable counsel and While. we deplore, Ur. Soone's Geparture' at this critical time, we are glad to. welcome. Dr. Kung a" his successor, who, we." feel "ce fident, will also. uphold terests of the Customs and render valuable service to the Government and to the public in his new capacity Jof Minister of Finance, Dr.' Soong, T have' now mach pleasure in-asking you, on behalf the Service, to asecpt this sot-Venior of our regard.
Bir. Ni Sling and Mfr. Vu Yo-ching both' astoeiated themselves, with the wks of Sir Frederick Maze, Mr. Soong's Reply Replying, Mr. Soong said: Sir Frederick. Maze, Members of the Customs Staff, Gentlemen; I am sincerely" touched by this token of regard for me. from, the Customs Staff, and by the kin!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.