* V
:
107
跚
Canton on June 23rd". No fault of commission or
~
omission on the part of the Goverment or of the people of Hongkong caused the strike or the ensuing boycott. Moreover, in the matter of legislation for the benefit of labourers, this Colony is in advance of China and the economic conditions of Hongkong
workmen are better than in China.
15.
The Foreign Office telegram points out that, so long as Canton receives arms and money from the Russians and nothing from us, some proportion of the Cantonese will naturally prefer the Russians. I quite agree and I shall certainly use all my own influence to induce the Vanton Government to accept british rather than Russian help. In this connection please see paragraph 3(a) of my secret despatch of the 24th ecember, paragraph 2 of my secret despatch of the 8th Jamary and paragraph 10 of my secret despatch of the 20th January. If the Canton
Government will suppress the Strike Committee, it might be possible to negotiate a satisfactory
settlement on the lines suggested in my conversations
with Mr. Sung Taz-man and Mr. Sun Fo.
16.
The Foreign Office telegram inquires whether it would be advisable for the Boxer Indemnity Delegation to visit Canton. We are very decidedly of
opinion that it should not do so, unless and until
normal relations between Canton and Great Britain are
restored. It would be intolerable that Lord Willingdon's
Delegation should be received and entertained by the present Canton Government in the native city while
Sir James Jamieson in Shamien and Mr. 0.0.A.Kirke
at Swatow remain ringed round by strike pickets
and are treated practically as enemies. We consider
/26; 5 that
XX03. TC 125/00 $ C
MY