with the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs by the
Koihow Mission, who doubtless feel that the British
Consulate at the present time is not a very hopeful
medium for obtaining redress.
4. ▲ somewhat similar incident occurred at the
Catholic Mission station near Ting in where in the
temporary absence of the French priest Cantonese
soldiers broke into and searched the premises,
left everything in disorder but did not steal.
196
5. Hoihow and Kiungchow are covered with blasphemŐ U18
cartoons, anti-Christian and anti-"imperialist", mostly issued by the Political Department
of the Navy. The persistent debauching of the
minds of the hitherto quiet and well-disposed Hainanese cannot fail to produce its effect sooner or
later. Copy and translation of a poster issued by the Political Department of the Army is enclosed, Begotiations with a Government that, in the face
of documents such as this, can officially disclaim any responsibility for the blockade of Hongkong and the British boycott seem rather hopeless.
6.
Commerce and shipping have up to the present
been unmolested, As far as I have been able to
ascertain no ploksts have yet arrived from Canton,
but it la believed that a local picket corps
is being formed, The Chamber of Commerce has
been pleading for time before the blockade of
Hongkong is enforced but the military have now begun
to show their teeth. On February 1st a meeting was
convened at the Chamber of Commerce, at which the
merchants were given very bluntly to understand
that the business was to pass resolutions and not
to discuss them, I understand that it was decided
that exports to Hongkong should cease forthwith
and/
}