CO129-356 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [4-6] — Page 357

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12th. he called upon me and I have now the honour to

submit to you the purport of the situation disclosed and

of the conversation which took place, at which the

Colonial Secretary (Mr. May) was present.

The Self-Government Society

(a term which I understand by the way to be better trans-

-lated by such a phrase as 'Self-Help' or 'Self-Reliance'

and to have nothing to do with the decentralization of the

Goverment of China) appears to have organised a most

effective Boycott, which had already completely destroyed

the Hongkong Manila trade of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire

and there was evidence to shew that it was extending across

the Pacific and to all Chinese Ports. The shipping business

of the Firm was in Mr. Law's opinion threatened with at

any rate temporary ruin. In these circumstances it was in

their interests to come to terms at any price and Mr. Law

was prepared to do so. His object, however, had been to

utilise the surrender by obtaining proof that it was the

Self-Government Society who were demanding the terms, and

responsible for the Boycott. The Viceroy had absolutely

declined to move on the grounds that there was no Boycott

in Canton and that the Boycott,

مم

if any was between Hong-

-kong and Manila. A Chinese Merchant of Amoy now approached

the