these guilds on May 10,
10, 1926, (previous to the agreement being signed by all parties) and which records:
"Similarly, all future ques- tions in dispute between your guild and themselves (the Com- pany) shall be submitted and decided in the same way." There is not the slightest shadow of doubt in view of the above quotation of the late Consul- General to show what the inten- tion and spirit was of all parties when the agreement was entered into and signed (two days later in the case of the C.C.O.G. and five days later in the case of the M.E.G.C.) and the word "shall" clearly proves that compulsory arbitration was the agreed medium by all parties for the settlement of future disputes. For the China Navigation Com- pany to now allege that it not, is simply:
(1) Discrediting
their
was
own counter offer made to the Guilds through the Consul- General in May, 1916: (2) Burking the Company's re- sponsibility for the present regrettable crisis: (3) Disparaging the late Sir Everard Fraser's recording in his conveyance of the Company's own suggestion to these Guilds on May 10th, 1916.
Finally, the members of these guilds in the service of the China Navigation Company, whilst de- ploring the position into which the company has forced them, will not permit the present dis- pute to interfere with the ning of the Company's vessels should such be required for emergency purposes.
THE SIXTH DAY.
man-
No Change In the Local Position.
YESTERDAY'S ARRIVALS.
With the arrival over the week- end of the Kueichow from
Tientsin, the Kingyuan from Singapore and Hoihow and the Kweiyang from Bang- kok and Kohsichang, three more vessels are added to the list of vessels held up by the China Navigation Company officer's strike. To-day sees the commence- ment of the sixth day of the hold up, there now being 13 vessels lying idle in port, including the Fatshan, from the Canton run.
tons of general cargo; the King- The Kueichow carried 1,782
1,813 rice. Officers are remaining yuan 1,000 tons; the Kweiyang,
on board to discharge cargo and to safe anchorage. if necessary will take the ships Meanwhile nothing has been done by either at both the Guild headquarters side to alter conditions. Inquiries
and the Company offices, resulted in an announcement that "There is nothing to communicate." There has been no clearance of C. N. C. vessels since the commencement of the strike.
It has been unofficially learned that certain of the older officers drastic methods of the Company were against the actually there are but three officers of striking, but
who have not responded to the call to "down tools." In one in- stance, a master, who had other prevailing difficulty, at the last views for the adjustment of the
moment threw in his lot with the! strikers, stating that his sense of loyalty to his brethren of the cloth
aloof, although he was such that he could not stand was not in agreement with their action.
It appears that some officers have left their ships and that the C. N. C. have placed members of their shore staff on board to act as guardians of their interests, but the movement has not been general.
Rumours to the effect that officers were leaving their ships as they lay, has not been officially confirmed. If such action was taken, in the event of a typhoon or other happening, a somewhat ticklish question of responsibility would arise since local ordinances demand that a qualified officer shall always be on board when a vessel is at a buoy or anchor in the harbour.
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