CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 288

Enclosure in Sir John Jordan's No.263 of July 21st, 1909.

H.B.M. Consulate General,

Manila.

L

7503

0

June 17, 1909.

9 1900

286

sir.

RECP

217 AUG OS

I have recently received communications from His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Canton requesting me to take action with the United States Authorities here in regard to a threat- ened boycot by Chinese shippers in these Islands against Messrs

Butterfield and Swire of Hongkong.

As Messrs. Smith Bell and Company of Manila represent that firm here, I of course placed myself in touch with them and have been entirely guided by their instructions received from Messrs. Butterfield and Swire in Hongkong.

The position appears to be that, owing to the alleged rilling of a Chinese on board one of the Company's boats by an employ of the firm, Chinese merchants in Canton being, as they state, unable to obtain redress against the man whom they ac-

cuse of murder, have tried to boycott the Company.

The Chinese in Hongkong, I understand, disclaim any pre- judice in the matter but have as a matter of fact cut shipments

under guild orders, and there is a slight echo of the same

influence in Manila. Manila shipments by Chinese are, however,

I

at no time large, and full shipments have quite recently been

made by Chinese by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's boats from

Cebu and Iloilo.

Messrs. Smith Bell and Co. do not think that the threat-

ened boycott will come to anything as far as these Islands are concerned, and unless requested by them to take action in the

Bir J.N.Jordan, K. C. M. G.,

matter

etc..

etc., eta..

H.M. Minister,

PEKING.