87
5.
At the present moment the Canton authorities are
showing in various ways a desire to resume more friendly
relations with Hongkong, but there is also a section which is
trying to keep alive the anti-British agitation, mainly, I think,
as a weapon with which to beat their opponents now in power. If
we are to establish a closer contact with those, such as General
Li Chal-sum, who are in a position to assist and protect
British interests we must also be prepared to bring something
to the bargain. As an example of what I mean, I may mention
that after telling Mr. Hu that I sympathized personally with
his government's desire to obtain control of the Chinese
telegraph office in Hongkong, and promising to forward his
request for your favourable consideration, I said that there
was a matter in which I needed his assistance. The Seamen'
Union was again making trouble for the British river steamers
and a political meeting was to be held on the 3. S. "Kinshan"
to-morrow afternoon. We wished to prevent this, as if
successful the movement would again be extended to the other
ships and would lead to a recrudescence of the trouble experienced
by the shipping companies before the recent anti-communist coup
had put a curb on the activities of the labour uniona. Mr. Hu
immediately promised to see General Li Chai-sum and the Chaef
of Police and arrange for police to be stationed near the ship
to prevent the union delegates from staging any demonstration.
It remains to be seen whether this will be done, but unless
the Canton authorities can be persuaded themselves to deal with
such matters, the British steamers are at the mercy of the
Seamen's Union and no amount of naval protection or action
taken in Hongkong is of the least assistance to the@m.
6.
1 have merely mentioned this as an example of the
way/
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