- 4
·
74
подг
on 30025/27
diatribes and constantly inveigh against what they are no42 pleased to call "imperialistic oppression". You will be
aware from my telegram of 12th September that a renewal of the anti-British boycott is being mooted in Canton. The casus belli is ostensibly the forcible release by H.M.S. "Moth" of the Chinese owned British Steamer "Tai Ming", which was detained by the Cantonese Authorities at Doshing on the
West River for salt-smuggling. A sample of the comments
Enclo. No. 1. of the Canton vernacular press on this incident is enclosed, Enclo. No. 2. together with a manifesto by the so-called Anti-British
Economic Boycott Commission, fixing a date for re-starting the boycott. I had hoped that, as on previous occasions, these outbursts would prove to be nothing more than the vapourings of small and irresponsible conglomerations of hot-heads: but I regret that this does not seem to be the
case. On the 13th September Mr. Brenan telegraphed that the pickets who enforce the anti-Japanese boycott at Canton had been interfering with British goods in transit from a Hong Kong river-steamer to Shameen, and on the following day he telegraphed that he had been informed that the principal importing Guild at Canton had wired to Shanghai to cease shipping goods to Canton by British Steamers. Confirmation of this statement has now been received from the Canton Agents of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company. Copies
Telegram from Canton to Peking
No. 79.
Telegram from Canton to Peking
No. 81.
Letter and telegram from Messrs
Jardine,Matheson & Co., Canton of 14th September.
Enclo.No.3.
of these messages as noted in the
margin are enclosed. Accordingly
today I laid the matter before my
Executive Council and find the members
in entire agreement with my recommendation that any re-
imposition