:
A
"It is believed that the Bolsheviks will open Canton for trade again when they: have secured a position strong enough to control the Province. When this hap- pens, the merchants will be compelled to trade under the conditions and lawa set out by the Bolshevika Foreigners irres pective of their nationality and any treaties their lovernments may have made with China before, will have to sub-
SILENT OPPOSITION. There is, of cours. silent opposition against the Bolsheviks in Chaton among) the Merchant class and among many of the labour Unions, but they are too terrified openly to express any dissatis- faction with the Government since they are threatened with death if they take any steps against the Government. Ish fact, it is literally a reign of terror and the present de facto Government-aramit to Bolshevik rule and trade under maintaining their power by terrorism and violence. There is no hope of the Chinese Civil population being about to organise successful resistance against the powerful Bolshevik Government, notwith standing that they greatly dislike then. and would disown them if they dared.
A GLOOMY FORECAST.
lf
the uncertain conditions which always follow in a country where all the power ta in the bands of a small and un- scrupulous clique, Trade will probably diminish to next to nothing, as has been the case in Russia where the average living standard has been lowered tre- mendously and the buying power of the population decreased in proportion.
It is very difficult to foretell the future of the Kwangtung province once the Bolsheviks get a firm footing in Canton, hat most likely the development will be about the same as in Russia, with the difference that the development in Kwangtung will be made faster on ac- count of the local conditions compared with Russia. The Kwangtung population (25 millions) is largely industrial whereas in Russia it is agricultural. Up till now the development in Canton has been strictly upon Bolshevik models and is still progressing on the same lines. there is no successful resistance soon, the industries and trade of Canton will be killed and the Bolsheviks have nothing to offer in place of the organisation they are breaking down, and the people who have lived on trade, as for example, those in the largest industry of all, the silk industry, will probably be compelled to produce food to the neglect of silk,Province are drifting. in order to be able to live. Orders are already given by the Government to the strikers and the peasants to cultivate food stuffs, such as rice and vegetables, in stead of things which have no market At present.
"In view of the fact that the 'Reds' bave the backing of Russian Bolshevist administrators to teach them European drill and strategy. it seems impossible that any local combination of Chiness Anti-Red forces will without similar ad- vantages or assistance from our side be strong enough to expel the present Red Government in Canton."
In introducing the lecturer, Mr. D. G. M. Bernard said :---
In Russia immediately after the Bol shevik revolution all industries came to au utter standstill and the country was completely ruined by famine and short Age of commodities. The Bolsheviks tried to put industries on their feet again, but even now, seven years after the revolu- tion, they have only succeeded in galing"
very small percentage of the factories into working condition,
The future outlook for Canton, in the Laowledge gained by the results of the Bolshevik methods in Russia, is very dark, since there is no party strong nough in Canton to resist the Bolsheviks, who are in power nearly all over the province. As a party their only object is to fight and destroy Capitalists and capitalist countries. They have DO mercy on the people and even if they in fiet endless suffering on them, they are not concerned so long as they obtain the results arrivod at. If the conservative Chinese had been able to combine at the beginning of this movement, they might have had a chance of saving their own country and could have driven tho Bolsheviks out, but the longer the delay in attempting this, the stronger the Bolsheviks become and, incidentally, the more difficult will it be for the Chinese") to get them out and become masters in ; their own country,
(Continued on next Column).
GENTLEMEN,—When we used to read about Bolshevism in Russia after the revolution and the reign of terror in- augurated there, we little thought that seives face to face with a similar state of in Hongkong we should one day find our-
affairs at our very doors. But such is now the case and the situation has deve-
loped so rapidly that it is doubtful if people yet realize into what a parlous condition Canton and the Kwangtung
It is a matter that affects us all vitally. We want to
Bee a well governed and prosperous South China not only for the
for our own trade. In the last two months „anks of our friends the Chinese but also
trade has been at a standstill owing to the strike and boycott which has been fomen- ted and maintained by the regular Bol- sherik method of terrorizing. The vast majority of the people, of course, aro not in sympathy with the movement which is directed by a small minority backed by Russians. But so far they have found themselves powerless to contend againstr the violent methods adopted and shack; the activity of the Reds.
Mr. O. J. B. Hellstrum, who has kindly consented to address us to-day, was in the Swedish Legation in Moscow from 1916: to 1918 and was for three months in charge of British interests there. He was ' able to watch Bolshevism in operation in Russia and he has Intely studied the development of it in Canton. He is therefore well qualified to speak on the ahjuet and I feel it hardly necessary to commend his address to your thoughtful attention.
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