CO129-421 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [3-4] — Page 305

!

od bus aperflor blind was oski : ftor od Jujit ent evad Ilens - to eest bin (abreydoob nikuisui) sator-woden toutsenos

,bad Ivanco Jaxit ad Ilada maqel, Istiqeo mistot „„miyolq-

IV ek k

| dd in end evarí Hude atos¿dua asemget Jadd se¬ryn ontdo

COPY.

No. 16.

ati ni wakibbuƐ ejazeqoic of

Sir,

Enclosure

300

Consul-General, Canton, to H. M. Minister, Peking.

H. B. L. Consulate-General,

Canton, Merch 22nd., 1915.

!

During the last few weeks the one topic of

discussion in the Canton newspapers has been the negotiations now! being carried on at Peking between the Chinese and Japanese

Governments.

The first signs of public interest in the matter were paragraphs in the newspapers early in February to the effect that the Chiang Chun and the Civil Governor had telegraph-

-ed to the Wai Chino Pu for information as to the progress of the

negotiations. According to the press, these telegrams were quickly followed by others from the Chamber of Commerce, the Press Association and other bodies of a semi-official nature requesting

that the negotiations might be published; but such requests have either been ignored altogether or the only reply vouchsafed there-: -to has been to the effect that the matters now under discussion

are the sole concern of the Central Government and that no commu-

-niques can be issued until the negotiations are completed.

The impossibility of obtaining any definite and reliable information as to the alleged demands of Japan has not, however, prevented the prosecution of a lively anti-Japanese campaign. Wild rumours, stirring appeals by irresponsible cor- -respondents and leading articles of an extremely bitter nature are published daily, and the subject is the general topic of conversation throughout the city. Translation of a typical letter to the newspapers is enclosed herewith.

Rumours have been circulated to the effect

that in view of the possibility that the anti-Japanese feeling might lead to riots, special instructions have been issued by

the Governor for the protection of foreign property in the city;

I