Moreover the Japanese demanded that even the remittances which they might allow, which covered only about 40 per cent. of ithe share of the occupied areas, should be dependent upon conditions which China could not accept. These, he said, included.—
Firstly, the recognition in effect. of Japanese interference with the integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs, and the alteration in the Customs regime, contrary to treaties and agreements already concluded; Secondly, the deposit of the collections in Japanese banks, where they obviously might be used against China; Thirdly, an agreement to turn over to Japan the amount of the accumulated Japanese portion of the Boxer Indemnity, which accrued each month in sterling in a foreign bank, as a temporary measure during the hostilities, ang to pay future instalments regularly each month, The Ministry of Finance, the spokesman went on to say, had received from the Inspector-General of Customs a communication requesting a further large advance, to make up the shortage for January.
"After the most careful consideration." the spokesman declared, "the Government felt that it had no other recourse but to decline this request, for the reasons indicated in its recent official statement." Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.