Enclosure No. 3
145
Translation.
Extract from the Wa Tsz Yat Po, Hong Kong, 7th December, 1928.
Attitude of the Merchants of various Guilds towards the
Anti-Japanese Boycott Society on account of the Seizure of
of Japanese Goods.
•
The Anti-Japanese Boycott Society was established
by all classes of people to boycott Japan economically. They began their work with preaching, admonition and guidance,
and then went so far as to make forcible seizures. The
power conferred upon them to examine and seize enemy goods will serve to close all sources of Japanese goods. But the Inspectors of the Society often enter shops, seize goods and take them back to their Society. The merchants of various Guilds, such as the Piece Goods Guild, Metal Dealers' Guild
and Sea Delicacies Merchants Guild have all risen to offer
opposition, regarding such actions as a very serious interference. For searches, even by the Maritime Customs, are made only at the landing places for steamers, boats and trains, and any direct search made in any godown or store will easily rouse suspicion in all quarters. Though there may not be such malpractices as that of purposely charging goods from friendly countries as enemy products, yet care- less mistakes cannot be avoided. On such occasions the goods are removed to the Society's Headquarters, applications have to be made for a re-examination and many other procedures have to be gone through; finally when the goods are returned, much loss has been sustained.
Therefore the
merchants of all classes have sent delegates to meet and discuss this matter with a view to offering unanimous resistance, and asking the Society to improve its methods.
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