CO885-11 — Page 45

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سلسل

Reference :-

PIC.O.882/11

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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At 10 a.m. we went to call on Mr. Wong Ching Wai who was out, but who instructed the Canton Government's secretary to receive us. Nothing of importance took place except that the Secretary expressed his pleasure at the arrival of our delegation and the hope that we could settle the economical questions, stating that the other questions could be dealt with between the two Governments.

Our attention was drawn to the newspaper article in the Man Kwok Yat Po attacking us. Some members of the delegation thought that it should be answered but I was strongly of the opposite opinion, and it was decided to take no action. Later on we were informed that handbills were being posted up all over Canton attacking us and stated that we had instigated Chan Kwing Ming to attack Canton and that we deserved to be killed. Mr. Li, Mr. Ma and I called at Mr. T. V. Soong with regard to these two matters and as to whether or not he would inform us as to the strikers' attitude regarding seeing us, since they had We then went to see promised to send us a letter that morning. Mr. C. C. Wu, who informed us he had received a letter from the strikers asking the Canton Government, as introducer to them of our delegation, as to what authority and status we had. He showed me a copy of a letter which Mr. Fletcher addressed to Mr. Wong Ching Wai, of the 24th December, from which it would appear that our authority was not to agree to any sum but to find out a sum and take it back to Hongkong for discussion between the Chinese and European merchants. On the other hand the Canton Government received a letter from the Consul at Shameen stating that the Government of Hongkong had written to the Consul to the effect that we were delegates on behalf of Chinese merchants to discuss terms, but that we had no authority to discuss anything which related to the Hongkong Government or to political questions. Mr. Wu observed that our power would appear to be merely to negotiate and no power to agree, and he repeated that what he thought the strikers wanted was someone who could conclude an effective agreement. He added that the strikers had not yet agreed to separate the discussion of the terms into two classes; that he had only intimated that if the economical terms were settled to their satis- faction, he would try to find some suitable means of negotiating the other terms; this had not been done; consequently. he could not interfere. I thought the implication was that there should have been some delegate on behalf of Hongkong as a whole who However, I would suggest to the strikers as to the separation. stated that if we could agree to the amount payable there was no question of our not signing any document evidencing it; nor that it would not be honoured; and he said he would send on to the Strikers' Union a copy of the Consul's letter as being the best means of indicating our authority.

1st January, 1926.

Last evening we received an invitation to dinner from the Strikers' Union for 4 o'clock to-day, which we attended. There were about 40 of the strikers and the seven of us, Mr. So Siu Ching taking the chair.

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The Chairman began by a short speech of welcome and ex- pressed the hope that our delegation would have something to speak to them by way of reply, &c.

were

ell-

Mr. Li Yau Chuen replied shortly to the effect that as repre- sentatives of Chinese merchants in Hongkong we deavouring to reach a settlement of the strike, and, as previously arranged, I spoke shortly, emphasising that the actions of the labourers in endeavouring to improve their status deserved every sympathy and referring to the fact that. I had taken part in the matter of the Peak and Race Course questions. I hoped that by close co-operation between employers and workers, all mis- understanding would be rendered impossible.

Mr. Tang Chung-hi (Chairman of the Affiliated Labourers' Union of China), who spoke in a Northern dialect and whose speech was interpreted by Mr. So Siu Ching, spoke at great length as to the origin of the strike. Very shortly summarised the effect is as follows:-

China and Chinese had always been trampled upon by the Europeans, and when the Chinese were murdered in Shang- hai and elsewhere, labourers in a body began to strike out of The strike purely patriotic motives, since China was not strong enough

Then the Shameen murders. to declare war. was not directed against the Chinese in Hongkong, but because Hongkong, like Shameen and Shanghai was within the British jurisdiction and therefore under Imperialistic rule The strike in its beginning was perfectly peaceful but two days later the Hongkong Government promulgated measures which for their severity were unparalleled in any civilised country. They attempted to cut off the food supply of the people of Kwang Tung and so to starve them just as England had done against Germany. Up to now there had never been a single expression of regret by the Hongkong Government or by the British as to the death of the Chinese The Hongkong at Shanghai, Shameen and elsewhere. Government could not possibly repudiate responsibility. They were at first determined not to end the strike and boycott until all international questions such as those concerning Shanghai, Shameen, and tariff autonomy had been settled. They knew of the tremendous losses of the Chinese merchants But it was in Hongkong and for this reason and for this reason only they were genuinely desirous of an early settlement. obvious that discussion could only be carried on by delegates for Hongkong appointed by the Hongkong Government and Four delegates had been ap- vested with full authority. pointed by the Hongkong Government and now eight dele- gates had been appointed by the Hongkong merchants. They did not understand the scope of our authority and they would like us to enlighten them.

Mr. Li Yau Chuen shortly explained as regards our authority and as to under what circumstances the four delegates were ap- pointed by the Hongkong Government in terms more or less stated earlier. As Mr. Li's remarks were not audible to the people sitting at the end of the table, I repeated Mr. Li's remarks