Wednesday's Times contained a disquieting telegram on the condition of
the Chinese Customs. The assurances which were given to Great Britain that there would be no change made in their administration seem to be consistently ignored. The new Chinese Comptrollers-General have begun their work by building expensive offices and providing themselves with a large staff at the expense of the Customs. They have given orders that no reports or statistics are to be published without their approval, which has an ominous appearance of a return to the old days of incompetence and corruption, which were made impossible when Sir Robert Hart insisted on publicity. If there is to be a Chinese censorship over returns, there is no security against the manipulation of figures. Further, as an insult to Sir Robert Hart, the Comptrollers have appointed a minor Customs clerk to carry their verbal instructions to him. In these circumstances it will be difficult for Sir Robert Hart to continue in office, and the rumours of his immediate resignation are probably true. The situation, as we pointed out some months ago, is an extremely grave one for British, and, indeed, for all foreign, trade, and it cannot be allowed to continue.
