"
Russia in May last year and stopped there a month. I might say that I speak Russian nearly as well as I speak Eng- fish, and I met many leading Bolsheviks. in the traine. They were going to thei big meeting in Moscow, following death of Lenin. 1 have never seen auch
gora na I saw in Russia. In Siberia, poke it was very cokl, there were small childreu going about in guany bags, bare footed, in the snow. Prople who before the revolution could live well had not food for the next day. Taxes were so high that the people did not know what to do.
Hon. Mr. Alabaster: The lecturer has already told some of us, but will be tell the meeting the difference between St. Petersburg before and after the revola- tion?
Mr. Hellstrom: There was a popula tion in St. Petersburg of two millions before the war, and during the years of war the figure rose to two and a half, When I passed through in May last year there were between 200,000 and 400,000 in-, habitants. Large districts of the town were in ruina, and beguse of the short- age of food the Bolshevik Government were giving out papers authorising people to pull down houses and take away the doors and window frames for firewood. In the pre-revolution days St. Petersburg was one of the prettiest towns I have seen. Now there are streets and streets of ruins. The streets were in such bad repair, also, that it was ex- ceedingly difficult to drive a carriage Along them.
An unknown speaker in the body of the Theatre: Regarding what has been said about "barricades" I consider it my duty to state that there have never at any time been barricades on the streets near Shameen, with the exception of duck and pig, baskets put there to prevent people or rickshas going into freak cement on new roads. I do not think that at any time there has been any sign of fighting measures being taken against Shameen by the Chinese.
J.
·
Prof. Middleton-Smith:
What Wip
you do if it were your own house, sit?
Mr. Hellstrom:, I will tell you that another time.
Question: Can you say what repre sentations have been made to the Home Gavernment!
The Chairman: I think the "Home Government are fully conversant with the situation out here, but beyond that I can say nothing.
SITUATION IN SWATOW.
Mr. A. MacGowan, a resident of Swatow! for a large number of years, then gavO a short account of the trade position in Swatow. Hince the formation of the Re-1 public, said Mr. MacGowan, there has been continual fighting in Swatow and dis- trict. The military, one faction or an other, are always in charge. There is perpetual strife, with intervals of peace. Each new military leader who secures charge of the City demands his taxes, and the people, under the threat of being looted, have to pay. Since the strike and boycott, trade, of course, has gone from bad to worse. The present boycott is against the British and Japanese only; other nationalities are not being molest- ed. The Bolsheviks control the Guilds, and through these hit at the foreigner. All the members of the Guilds are ter rorised, and dare not do anything but what they are told. It was on July 2nd that the house-servants left work, and wet were isolated. Not a Chinese was allow ed to come near us, let alone speak to us. When spoken to they simply turned? plied from Hongkong and had the as- away. As regards food we were well sup-
sistance of H.M.S. Bluebell. No water is allowed to be sent alongside any British or Japanese vessels, and no sampun will take any Britisher as passenger.
If the owner of a sampan did take a British subject as a passenger his boat would be seized and burned. Ail our offices are closed-we might call it
a
à summer vacation. Swatow is entirely
Mr. Hellstrom: I have seen those pader the domination of Canton, and baskets, but I understand the obstruct present the chances of an improvement tion was intended to prevent Chinesare roinste. from going into Shameen. It was stated that if they went to Shameen, and were subsequently caught, they would be liable to be shot.
Another Question: Is it likely that the Bolsheviks will attack Shameen?
. Col. Robertson: Is it not possible to the meeting In 1848, I think, the same have an expression of the opinion of
conditiona prevailed in Canton as now,' but this was soon stopped by the autho-- rities themselves instead of waiting for
Mr. Hellstrom I don't think the Bol-England. England does not seem to takejj sheviks will attack Shamcen, because any notice of what the people suffer here. they are clever enough to know that *I know something of Bolshevism, and would mean war. They want to kill you anyone who wants it can have it. I harn slowly by stifling your trade, and they do
not want to be defeated in war.
Mr. M. Manuk: What remedy would the speaker suggest for the present state
affairs?
A Voice:
British occupation!
Mr. Hellstrom: I leave you to draw conclusions from my speech. I am not a British subject and I cannot tell you what to do in your own house. (Ap-
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