Encl. No. 1.

-

· 3-

164

Communist' gangs out of their refuges in the

mountains to rob and murder the country folk; in

the citics too, much propaganda is being carried

on under the surface; many essential public works

exist only on paper while the small resources

available are too often diverted to purposes

more ornancnted than useful. The military are

still living on the country and attempts to unify

taxation and pass all receipts and payments

through the Central Treasury have broken down;

The organisations, which by the use of every form

of intimidation maintained the Anti British

boycott long after its real force was spent, still

exist ready to resume their activities at the

first opportunity; The Government while clearly

disapproving is helpless to interfere with the

operations of the Japanese Boycott Committee

whose members are busy enriching themselves in

the old familiar manner. On the balance however

there seen to be grounds for optimism which

will be strengthened should Marshal Li Chai-sum

decide to prolong his stay in the South. I

enclose a newspaper report of one of his recent

specches the good sense and moderation of which

are much to be commendoa.

4.

In paragraph 7 of my despatch of

30th November, 1928, I referred to the activities

of the Seamen's and Mechanics' Unions in

absorbing all lesser organisations which could by

any stretch of imagination be included under

those two heads. The process has since

continued though not entirely without opposition.

Meanwhile the Seamen's Union has officially

recognised

Share This Page