Enclo. No. 1
Enclo.No. 2.
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105
a lighter containing oil, belonging to the Asiatic Petroleum Company, was seized by pickets of the boycott organization and recovered again by a British Naval armed party, but in general the Boycott Committee is content to issue "passes" on payment of one per cent, or two por cent, of the value of the goods imported hoping that such petty pilfering will be overlooked by the British authori- ties. I enclose the report broadcast in the Canton papers of a recent meeting of this Committee. The publication with impunity of these fulminations could not but convince the timid Chinese merchant that the movement had the support of the Government and dispose him to pay thankfully the comparatively small sums exacted. It is commonly alleged that the boycott is being encouraged by the entourage of - Wong Tsing-wai who are looking on all sides for
supporters.
4.
Meanwhile the political situation at Canton changed rapidly in sympathy with events elsewhere. While the issue of the struggle between Hankow and Nanking was still in doubt Wong Tsing-wai appeared determined to carry out his scheme of convening the general Conference of the Kuomintang at Canton. T.V. Soong had already left for Shanghai but other members of the Central Executive Committee, Ku Kang-yü, Yong F'at-k'an, Pun Wan-ch'iu and Wong Lok-p'ing, Left wing politicians from Hankov, arrived to take his place. Wong himself was reported to be adopting an attitude of studied moderation. I enclose a translation of a speech said to have been made by him soon after his arrival, which however, contains little
11
that is
E