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again deteriorated under the corruption of the Kwangsi and Yunnan reactionaries. It has been justly pointed out that the development of Canton is closely bound with the progress of the National Revolution. When the National Revolutionary Movement meeta with obstacles, the development of Canton suffers likewise. That Cantou, with its abundance of wealth and population, could not render the necessary assistance to the Revolutionary Government in getting rid of its obstacles and creating conditions of unrestricted and free development in the interest of the people, deserves our closest consideration. The result of this neglect of the duty of the capital of the Revolutionary Government was the repeated decline of both the National Revolutionary Movement and of city administration.
On the day of its inauguration, the 1st July, the Nationalist Government declared that the application of the unequal treaties by the Imperialist Powers had deprived China of its freedom and independence, and that the abolition of these treaties is the first step in the progress of the National Revolutionary Movement. On the 3rd July the Provincial Government declared that the Province of Kwangtung suffered from the unequal treaties more than any other province. The Provincial Government further declared that so long as the unequal treaties exist, Kwangtung must eventually lose ita position as the capital of the Revolutionary Government. The reason for the barkwardness of the civil administration of Canton thus becomes apparent.
Because of its close proximity to the British colony of Hong Kong, Canton is deprived of a free commercial outlet to the sea. Canton is under the economic and political domination of Hong Kong. The effect of this domination is more keenly felt now than ever before After Canton began foreign trade the city looked more prosperous than before, but this was only an illusion, for in reality its native industries were being destroyed by foreign industry, while the markets of native products were being flooded by foreign commodities. Foreign banknotes squeezed out Chinese currency, so that foreign banks in fact controlled the finances of the whole province and monopolised inter-provincial commerce.
With its economic life under foreign domination the internal politics of Canton also fell under the same domination
In every war waged in this province, whether by Northern militarists or militarists of neighbouring provinces, as well as those of Kwangtung itself, the Imperialists were invariably involved. To say, therefore, that
the militarists alone have been responsible for the arrested developments of the city of Canton would not be as nearly correct as to say that the responsibility rests with the Imperialists. So long as Canton is not freed from the domination of Hong Kong the further economic development of Canton is not possible.
Therefore, the people of Canton who have gone through long years of suffering and distress are becoming more and more conscious that without following the principles of the Kuomintang and without joining the ranks of the anti-Imperialist and anti- militarist movement for the realisation of the aims of the National Revolution, there can be no salvation and no new life for China. In the recent wars in Kwangtung the workers, farmers, merchants anl students actively helped the Revolutionary Govern- ment to sweep away the reactionaries who are but tools of Imperalism. After the defeat of these reactionaries the Nationalist and Provincial Governments have been established under the direction and supervision of the Kuomintang. Likewise, the city of Canton commenced its new administration, It seemed that there was a good opportunity for the develop rent of the National Revolution and the development of the civil administration of Canton,
However, a few days after the reactionaries had been routed, the Shakee massacre took place, which furnished conclusive evidence that the Imperialists are bent upon preventing Canton from a free and normal development. Notwithstanding the extremt patience and toleration with which the people of Canton met the outrageous massacres by the Imperialists, and in spite of the fact that peace and tranquillity were maintained by our people after the massacre, Hong Kong proceeded to cut off our communication with the outside world by detaining our telegraph messages, holding up transportation, thus putting our city in a state of complete isolation. All these facts support us in our common belief that so long as Canton is not free of the yoke of Hong Kong the British Imperialists will continue to hold the fate of Canton in their clutches.
The City Government of Canton therefore declares that the paramount task of the people is to elevate the city to a position of complete independence. The people should exert their utmost endeavour to build harbours, railways and highways in order to facilitate the development of industry and thus to achieve economic indepenence. the realisation of these tasks we shall not refrain from the employment of foreign capital. The employment of foreign capital secured on Imperialist couditions is
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destructive, while capital acquired on the basis of mutual advantages can well be used F for the development of the independence of Canton. This had already been referred to 16 in the programme for the industrial "development of China" by our late generalissimo,
Dr. Sun.
In its endeavour to accomplish these tasks, the City Government expects the support of all the people of Canton. On the one hand, it expects the workers, farmers, merchants and students to devote themselves to the cause of the National Revolution, and, on the other hand, it expects them to participate in the movement for the effective protection of their respective interests. When the reactionaries held sway and the city was groaning under the burden of the lawless militarists and corrupt officials, the people were unwilling to pay taxes, irrespective of the fact that portions of the taxes, appropriated for militarist purposes, were, with gratifying results, used in the cause of the National Revolution. The Revolutionary Government depended upon these taxes to fight the Northern militarists and the reactionaries within the province. The Revolutionary Government has not contracted a single loan, while the Northern militarists borrowed millions of dollars from the Imperialists. It was, due to taxation for this purpose that the people of Canton were unable to attend to the however, chiefly needs of the city, and thus the development of civil administration suffered a decline.
Now that the reactionaries have been defeated the lawless militarists and corrupt officials have been to a large extent got rid of, the military expenditures can be greatly reduced. With the destructive forces largely gone, constructive work shall begin.
The City Government shall within the shortest period of time aim at the realisation of the following minimum programme :—
1. To abolish all heavy taxes, to revise the system of taxation, and to cancel
illegally-acquired city properties.
2. To remove all armies from the city, to return all houses occupied by soldiers, and to improve the police system for the better protection of the lives and property of the citizens.
3. To repair roads and highways and to open new roads for the convenience of
communication.
4. To improve public hygienic conditions, to provide increased and independent
funds for education, and to unify the school system,
5. To apply strict supervision over civil officers in order to prevent corruption.
6. To probibit effectively gambling and opium smoking in compliance with the
commands of the Nationalist and Provincial Governments.
The above is the minimum: programme for relieving the people from their present sufferings and to facilitate future development. The Imperialists have always exerted their influence to swerve Canton away from the path of the revolution. The City Government, in its resistance to this influence, depends upon the thorough under- standing by the people of the dangers of Imperialism and of the necessity for a firm stand on the principles of the Kuomintang in the struggle against the Imperialists. With the Imperialists overthrown and with Canton free from their bondage and independent economically, there will be unrestricted development for the city. With this declaration, we send our greetings to all citizens of Canton.
In
Canton, July 4, 1925.
[14166]
WU CHAO-CHU,
Chief Commissioner.
TAM SIU-WA,
Commissioner of Finance.
LAM YAT-MUN,
Commissioner of Public Works.
WU TER-CHEN,
Commissioner of Public Safety.
Dr. SZE-TO CHIU,
Commissioner of Public Health. WONG CHAN-KONG,
Commissioner of Education.
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