Washington, June 1.
Mr. Cordell Hull Secretary of State, said yesterday that the United States Consuls were very much alive to the question of maintaining the integrity of the Chinese Customs.
Replying to a query whether the State Department confirmed reports that the Japanese had materially lowered the Customs in Central China in order to favour their trade, Mr. Hull said that the United States Consuls were vigilant. A He reiterated the interest of the United States in the maintenance of the integrity of the Chinese Customs 39 Interest in the mier in which (de was conducted In China.
One reporter demanded: "Did not the change in the Customs rates, without the consent of the Chinese Government, which the United States recognized, constitute a violation of the Nine Power Pact?"
Mr. Hull replied that the question could more profitably be discussed at a later stage.—Reuter. T
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.