Page
CANTON MERCHANTS OPTIMISTIC.
"STEADILY GROWING BELIEF THAT BOYCOTT
IS ENDING.
NO INTERFERENCE FROM STRIKE PICKETS,
ELEMENT OF SCEPTICISM IN SOME QUARTERS.
THE
There is a feeling of optimism in Canton that the boycoth will, very shortly, be a thing of the past. No one gives the reason for the sudden and dramatic change in policy but there it is. The merchants are cheery and corident. The Banton Government scheme of imposing a surtax, of two and a half per cent on ordinary imports and five per cent on imported luxuries has, it is stated, already been put into operation and is anid to be working quite smoothly and satisfactorily. The merchants welcome the change and pay gladly as it frees them from the uncertain and irregular exactions of the pickets. Of course, the Customs Authorities have nothing to do with these surtaxes. Goods are to be cleared of the Customs in the usual way and then pass on to what might now be described as the Government's own Customs Office which takes the place of the former pickets, examination shed.
A correspondent writes: "The pickets disappeared like magic from the Shameer gutes at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday. What they are up to I do not know. Everything is quiet" in the City and everything is quiet around Shameen. No. Chinese are ping in or going out and I think they are still scared. They do not understand yet what is happening. The British gate was formerly opened until a late hour but now it is closed at 7 o'clock each evening and no late traffic "is allowed.”
Azother correspondent states that the strike pickets have not only been taken away from Shameen but are being sent away from the City. It is impossible, however, for anyone outside of official circles to be absolutely certain of what is happening throughout the City and this statement; therefore, should be accepted with reserve. Another report to hand states that foreigners took silk into Shameen yesterday without trouble. It was regarded as a test case and was quite successful.
There was absolutely no interference with passengers boarding the Hongkonk. Canton and Macio Steamboat yesterday but there were not more passengers than usual. To sum up the position at the moment it may be said that the Cantonces are hopeful that the boycott will be soon over, but still lack confidence.
THE S.S. CHEONGSHING.
The Indo-China Steam Navigation Company are accepting the state- men; that the boycott will be over by October 1st and have, therefore, decided to have a boat in readiness on that date to take any cargo that may be offering for China ports. There will be no ground for saying "that the boycott was lifted and the British were found unready.
The Chongshing will be dispatched to Canton on Sunday and after dis- charging her cargo she will remain at the berth to take on any cargo there may be for Shangha!, "Cheloo and Tientsin."
EFFECT IN HONGKONG.
In Hongkong the newa of the ending of the boycott is now being received with a certain amount of confidence but there is still an, under- current of suspicion that every obstacle will not be overcome so easily and quickly as the reports circulated seem to suggest. The cautious mer- chant does not believe in lightning changes and many will not agree that the boycott is a thing of the past until cargoes. begin to move freely In the meantime the optimistic reports are having a steadily hardening effect on the share market. As was shown in the Daily Prest on Thursday there was a tendency for prices to rise us soon 19 Mr.. Eugene Chen's communiqué was published. The upward movement con- tinued yesterday. Lands closed at 862 a rise of 24.50 over the previous day.' Hotels went from 9 to 810, Duglases from $25 to 827, Steamboats from 896 to $28, Ferries from 900 to 805, Wharves" from 8110 to $118, Electrics from $19.to 868 and so on."
WHAT THE "CANTON | boycott when a trade boom is on the
GAZETTE" SAYS.
The Canton Gazette of Thursday gives a prominent space to a discussion of the anti-British boycott and the new taxes. It says:-
for China we bave much to nak!
offing, it would evem natural that foreign Powers, and particularly Britain, whose trade interests in South China are:
would be desirous of seeing that the new larger than that of any other nation,
taxes be levied with the least disturbance
of commerce.
Abolition of Likia,
HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1926
HONGKONG CHINESE PAPERS'
COMMENT.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
The Wak Tac Fat Po, referring to Mr. SCAVENGING COOLIE CHARGED Eugena Chen's communiquid regarding WITH MANSLAUGHTER.
the ittlement of the boycott, says:
The question of traffic resumption beQUARREL OVER TRIVIAL THINGS. tween Hongkong and Canton-one that
bas attracted world-wide attention and A quarrel between two scavenging coolies which has long remained unsettled despite of the Sanitary Department as the result the efforts of "peace delegates-is to be of which one died was detailed at the "decided by voluntary action on the part Criminal Sessions yesterday when be of the Carton authorities, who are, also, fore the Chief Justice, a ccolie was at the same time, to terminate the anti-charged with manslaughter. British boycott. There is no person in Hongkong or Canton who does not re- ceive this news with great joy.
The Attorney General who prosecuted quoted from law cases laying down that if two persons quarrelled and, afterwards We have repeatedly said in the past fought at a time when their passions, were that the Canton authorities should always roused the charge of manslaughter must bear in mind the fact that a large probe brought against either portion of the Hongkong pepulation, and caused the death of the other. If one
оде who
a great part of its interest, are Chinese, killed the other some period after the and that the loss and inconvenience quarrel when there was time for the caused by the suspension of traffic. has passion to subside the charge was one of to be suffered to a great extent by the
murder, Chinese.
Now the Canton authorities have ox- pressed themselves. While future Chi- nese-British trade relations may have to be readjusted, we are glad to note that henceforth, intercourse between the two parts will not be subjected to the annoy ance and interference of strike pickets.
The Carton authorities have for the past 15 months refused to withdraw their conditions for the settlement of the boy cott and visits have been exchanged be tween emissaries from Hongkong and Canton but without result. Now the Canton authorities have voluntarily de clared the boycott off, practically without may condition. Has this action been in- fuenced by recent British activities on the Yangtaze or by a desire on the part of Canton to renew its friendship with a neighbour?
The Wah Kiu Fat Po says: The news of a possible settlement of the strike and boycotty together with the probable early resumption of Canton-Hongkong trac, has taken many by surprise and has been received by not a few with suspicion. In the past there have been so many reports from which no action Eas come, that there was perhaps some excuse for not taking this latest report seriously when it was first circulated.
The latest news came, however, through letter of Mr. Eugene Chea" to the British Consulate at Shameen, and in view of this, there is no doubt that traffic will soon be resumed. This is a good reason for all in Canton and Hongkong to be happy.
COM-
The Likely Plea. Counsel thought it likely that the de- fence would be that the fight was forced upon Big by the other man and he had unintentionally committed an het which led to the death of the deceased. If the jury were satisded that the prisoner had proved this after the evidenct had been taken, he would be entitled to an acquittal But if two persons entered into a fight willingly and in the course of it one killed the other, then the survivor was guilty, of manslaughter...
Dause of the Fight.
-
The fight arose over a matter which in Lisen was very travin, COL:- ect tau Attorney General The cused's duty Was to sweep dirt aad retuse to the pataway and rollway into the counciling prior to others com-
walong broom ing along to carry it away, he was. 130, tu differentiate from ine "short browm men who came afterwards. the course of his scavenging duties out- On August 19th the accused arrived in
mide wo. 24, Battery street, where there were souse large paper bags placed out- side a sweet stall to dry. As to what took place then ne (the Attorney General) was not prepared definitely to state and 11 would be for the court to attempt to get the true events from the evidence of
witnesses.
According to witnesses for the Crown the accused indicated that he was going to sweep the bags away and the deceased, who was a nephew the sweet stall holder, asked him not to do that as the bags were wanted and would be taken away. The stall holder then seemed to have intervened and to have taken up the bays, with an apology, and to have gone inside, Words then passed between the accused and deceased and a fight
ensued
Accused's Story.
"
Since the publication of the muniqué referred to, the view of Hong- It was alleged by the Crown that in kong regarding the surtax on Customs the course of the fight the sccused prod dues has not been officially made knowed the deceased in the lower part of the As this view has no little to do with body with his broom. future Chinese-British, trade relations, it is hoped that some expression of opinion o the subject may be made for the in- terest of the merchants concerned.
CANTON ITEMS.
45.
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]
The Attorney General detailed further incidents relating to the departure of the two contestants and the Ending of the deceased 'on a doorstep in a dying con- dition some hour and a half after the fight.
in reply to the charges put to him before, the prisoner had replied that he did not till the deceased, and that he (sc- cused) was assaulted by two men and a woman belonging to the stall who pushed him to the ground. The deceased had been sick before and he (accused) did not kill him. The deceased had refused to remove the bags at accused's request stat ing that he was too busy. Further words had paused and deceased had struck tim over the eye. Accused further stated that he had then dropped his broom and walked away!
In spite of the talk of ending the boy cott the meeting of the leaders of the four principal guilds in Canton to which reference has previously been made was held on Wednesday as arranged to dis cuss the action to be taken to make more complete the severance of economic rela tions with Great Britain. The following committee was appointed to organise the movement:-Messrs. Woo Chung Tong, Ma Pak Lin, Lau Tung Ping, Lee Shiu
A Swollen Bya. Shu, Pang Cho Lup, and the Rev. Wong
With regard to accused's version, there Yuk Shing. now unnecessary but the Kuomintang, been struck over the eye which was in a It would seem that this Committee is was corroboration of the fact that he had while declaring the boycott off, reserve swollen condition when he was arrested to the people the right of trading with but with regard to his version of the other whomever they please and the "Red" incidents, the Attorney General submitted section of the Party will still endeavour that there was more probability of the to discourage trading with Great Britain, Crown's witnesses version being correct Many pickets of the Canton Strike as the accused after making the allege- Committee appear to have misunderstood, tions regarding concerted attack on the position of the Canton Police, some himself went on to describe only an members of which, who were on duty at encounter between himself and the de the wharves, are now being accused of ceased. With regard to his story of being "running dogs of the "imperiai- dropping the broom, the Attorney Gen- eral submitted that it was unlikely that ints."
weapon he had. the accused would have dropped the only
The projected sudden termination of the Anti-British Boycott is in a way he dramatic as its gory beginning. What "The implications are greater even had precisely moved the powers that be than these. The Nationalist Government to take the course, will always be sub-is anxious to abolish tikin and the other ject for conjecture. Doubtless had they obnoxious multiple taxes that harass so desired they could have obtained trade. As soon as the new taxes prove suc- various concessions from Hongkong, as it essful, it intends to immediately cancel is no secret that when the last Hongkong likin and the various harmful taxes, and delegation came up they offered concessubstitute them by a further imposition of sions, for a negotiated Bettlement. In per cent., thus making a total of acting as they did without the least per cent, on ordinary goods. We desire reference to Hongkong our people may to emphasize here that what is aimed at well have been paraphrasing Dumas' is not larger receipts, but the replace- ment of an antiquated tax by a superior Athos: For ourselves we want nothing, form of taxation. As a matter of fact the additional 2 per cent, impost would "The conclusion of the Gfteen months almost certainly bring in less than the long boycott, however, cannot be satis likin. factorily and lastingly secured without "Likin has been synonymous with suficient funds for the return to cfficial corruption, tyranny and incompet medicinal "pill manufacturer of Canton, Dr. Leung Pul Kee, the well-known 'normalcy,' and for this purpose our ence. But so far it could not be replaced Government will levy a temporary con- because, in the first place, no effective who, as already reported, was taken pri sumption tax of 8 per cent. en ordinary substitute has been found, and what is soner by bandits, has now been heard imports, and 5 per cent on luxuries. perhaps more important, vested interests from. The bandits are asking 2500,000 On exports a flat rate of 2 per cent. throughout the country have been too from Dr. Leung's family as a condition
of his release. will be charged. The right of our strong to permit of its abolition. When Government to levy & consumption tax is it is known that for China as a whole the' unquestioned, and it has on numerous receipts of the Government from likin occasions throughout the country success comes to only a third of what in wrang fully maintained its position. Likewise from the people, the existence of a tre- on a production tax on its own citizens mentiously vicious parasitic class is pimportance, have succeeded in making the foreign nations cannot raise the parent. Perhaps it is the Nationalist bugbear of infringing the integrity of Government along that has the strength the sacrosanet Maritime Customs. What and the will to deal a deathblow to this then, journalese Hongkong saya, has the barrior to, and the removal of which new taxes to do with the ending of the cannot but enhance; trade. anti-British boycott!
We, therefore, commend the new taxes to the business community, for not only is the Nationalist Government com- pletely within its rights in levying them, but their successful application will mena
."
Wuchow Reports, . Reports from Wuchow, Kwangsi, in dicate that the anti-Reds" there, while not being able to do anything of vital
the Kuomintang authorities Dervous. wellin, Nanning, and other Kwang cities are being prepared to meet "anti- Red" invasions. "Kweilin understands that two former Kwungsi militarists. Shen Hung Ying and Han Choi Fung, have been engaged as "anti-Red" leaders with an aim to attack Kweilin.
Russian Money Lacking,
Medical evidence was called to the effect
that the deceased was found on & post mortem to have an abnormally large spleen, probably as a sequel to an attack of malaria he was stated to have suffered from.
Evidence was given by persons who witnessed the fight, and the case was adjourned until Monday.
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. HAWKER AND A PREACHER'S
CLOCK...
Giving his decision in the case in which a hawker of Kowloon City was charged with unlawfully receiving a dressing rogir clock belonging to Chán Lai Man,
The Maritime Customs, whatever its defects, is an institution of 'many years' standing, with a developed organization and well-recognized traditional standards of levying, For the Nationalist Govern- the abolition of the likin-a policy to The Kwangtung University, or Chung Christian preacher, Mr. J. H. B. ment to organize a complete apparatus which the Nationalist Government in shan University, is unable to re-Nihill, at the Kowloon Magistracy yes anew there would undoubtedly ensue a committed. And it is a cardinal axiom of open for the autumn term, owing terday, said that there was insufficient period of confusion during which trade trade that, within limits. the rate of to lack of financial support from the evidence to show that the defendant Would suffer. It is to obviate this neces- taxation is a matter of indifference to the Soviets who will not advance the three knew at the time that the article was sity that the Government desires the co- merchant provided that it is applied month's expenses as at first promised stolen. The defendant was accordingly operation of the foreign-controlled Mari-systematically, equitably, economically, unless the acting president, Mr. Ching discharged time Customs in the collection of the new and with the minimum "of annoyance to Heng Yu, an ultra-Red, is able to exer tax, although it could create its own the neople. But, after all, as the cards cise his full power over the institution. entirely independent organ of collection stand, save viturcration, what better way The anti-Red" section of the Univer if necessary. With the conclusion of the is there out of the present impasse ! "sity is now opposing Mr. Ching,
Sub-Inspector Stimson intimated that the man who, was believed to have given. the defendant the clock as security was being detained by the police.
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