Description
Roy Maxwell Talbot (1880-1963) began his career in the Chinese Maritime Customs in 1908. He served as Commissioner of Customs
from 1935 until 1938, when he became Audit Secretary in the Inspectorate General's Office. He was in that position until 1942.
In July of 1932, Talbot was arrested by Japanese officials in Antung, Manchuria for refusing to hand over the Chinese customs
revenues. In 1941, he was held in the Bridge House, an infamous dungeon, for forty-two days. Talbot's detention by the Japanese
created an international incident. Newspapers around the world carried headlines of an arrest of an "American" employed by
the Chinese.
Background
Roy Maxwell Talbot (1880 -1963) began his career in the Chinese Maritime Customs in 1908. He served as Commissioner of Customs
from 1935 until 1938, when he became Audit Secretary in the Inspectorate General's Office. He was in that position until 1942.
He served in Canton, Icheng, Nanking, Shanghai, Harbin, Swatow, Kongmoon, Aigun, Antung, Changsha, Amoy and Kunning. In July,
1932, Talbot was arrested by Japanese officials in Antung, Manchuria for refusing to hand over the Chinese customs revenues.
In 1941 he was held in the Bridge House, an infamous dungeon, for 42 days. Talbot's detention by the Japanese created an international
incident. Newspapers around the world carried headlines of an arrest of an "American" employed by the Chinese.