342 seizure of the "Tatsu Maru" in waters either adjacent to or under the jurisdiction of Macao. Your Lordship is aware from reports made through British Minister by the Consul-General at Canton of the reprisals taken by disputing the boundaries of the Portuguese Colony &c., a matter which may yet give rise to a difficult situation.
3 In prosecution of their main purpose of crippling Japanese trade a Boycott was instituted about this time last year. Towards the end of October the Society found it increasingly difficult to maintain this Boycott and determined to adopt very strong measures. Fearing reprisals if these measures were carried out in Canton they chose this Colony as the theatre of operations, and after scattering leaflets of an intimidating nature, threatening to cut off the ears of any Chinese Merchant who should engage in trade with Japan, and actually attempting to carry out this threat they brought matters to a head by organising a riot on November 2nd. and attacking and destroying the shops of persons who sold any Japanese goods. The riot was suppressed by Military Force, but its effect had been to so intimidate the Chinese of Hongkong, that it was clear that henceforth the Chinese population here would implicitly obey any orders issued by the ... Society