301
4
statement was made yesterday to his employer by the head of the large Chinese staff of a British firm here, which is closely connected with Chinese shipping affairs.
The intelligence supplied by the informant during the war was of great assistance to the intelligence bureau here,
He states that quite recently a letter was received in Shanghai by the relatives of a Chinese sailor now in Canton, of which the gist was as follows :--
"Strike delegates were appointed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his Government. They, in turn, informed the crews of the different ships arriving and already in port that the time was ripe to strike for higher wages, and, with the Southern Government behind them, their demands were sure to be granted. They, the sailors. were informed that arrangements had been made for them to proceed direct to Canton, where they would be provided with food and quarters and where they would have the protection of the Government. In return for this assistance, 50 per cent. of the increased wage was to be paid into the union for a stated period, this sum to be handed over to the Southern Government as the seamen's contribution to help finance the Southern troops in their campaign against the North.
"On arrival in Canton the men were provided with both food and quarters, but on the tenth day the food supply was stopped, and when the men applied for assistance to return to Hong Kong and rejoin their ships they were told that no permission would be given to leave Canton, and if they required food they could join the Southern army, in which case both food and clothing would be provided them.
"The majority of the men considered they had been both misled and badly treated and wished to return to their ships, but were too frightened to do so."
The informant adds that quite a number of the better-class Chinese have discussed the contents of the letter, and believe that Sun Yat-sen is the sole cause of the strike, having engineered it as a means of raising funds for his campaign against the North.
Like all Chinese, the informant is not only averse from making a public statement with regard to his knowledge of this matter, but in all probability would flatly deny having any knowledge whatsoever if asked to make a statement by anyone in an official position.
Your Excellency will no doubt recall a book published in 1920 by Sun Yat-sen entitled "The International Development of China," in which (pp. 50 et seq.) he contemplates with obvious relish the supplanting of Hong Kong as a transhipping centre by Canton.
Copies of this despatch are being sent to His Majesty's Minister at Peking aud to His Majesty's consul-general at Canton.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
Memorandum.
E. H. FRASER.
THE opinion held by the bureau that Sun Yat-sen is definitely associating himself with the urging on of labour troubles in Hong Kong is now considered to be definitely confirmed.
Evidence in this direction consists of-
1. Knowledge of the existence of a telegram from Sun, addressed to the strike leaders in Canton, urging them to hold out. (Authority: French Mission in Canton; date, 13th February.}
2. An official telegram from Hui Sung Chi (commanding 2nd Army under Sun) addressed to Chen Chiung Ming, dated the 4th February at Sun's head- quarters at Kuelin, voicing the hope that he will help those that strike for
their rights." (Translation attached.*)
3. The presence in Hong Kong and the intimidatory methods of agents sent by
P. S. Chan and Che Ying Pak (for description of Che Ying Pak see attach- ment No. 2*), both associates of Sun Yat-sen.
• Not printed.
5
4. The fact that about fifty of the unions in Hong Kong are under special charters issued by the Kuo Min Tang. The strongest of these is the Mechanics' Union, and an order has been issued from headquarters in Canton that, unless the demands of the seamen are satisfied at once, this union and others will go out in sympathy.
5. The cordial entertainment of the strikers on arrival in Canton by the civil
section of the Kuo Min Tang, of which Sun Yat-sen is head.
6. In Sam Chun (Chinese territory) more than 3,000 strikers are quartered in
houses taken from the residents.
7. The persistent reports that considerable quantities of money are coming to the strikers from Batavia from a man named Tang, who is known to be Sun's agent.
Further, it is our opinion that this activity of Sun is part of a definite anti-foreign policy, which includes the destruction of foreign commerce and influence in China, more particularly those of the British.
1. The existence of secret terms, dated the 26th December, 1921, sent by Sun Yat-
sen to Soviet Russia.
2. Since the return of Sun to Canton there has been an immense increase in Socialistic, Communistic and Bolshevik literature in the town. Further, at this time there are in Tung Shan a number of Russian Bolshevik emissaries who, unchecked by the authorities, lecture daily to the people on Communistic principles.
3. The despatch of agents to India by Sun (February 1922), at the request of the revolutionary party in that country, to explain the principles of the amalgamation of the coloured races against the white races." (An authentic request has been made by these agents for Chinese translations of names on the borders of Afghanistan.)
4. The report that Sun's followers have been preaching among the striking work- men in Canton that "under Sun's guidance they will take and divide amongst themselves the property, banks, business houses and ships of the wealthy Chinese and of the foreigners." (Authority: Statement by the Honourable Mr. Lau Chu Pak and Chow Shau San.)
5. Efforts made by Sun to enlist the sympathies of the Hong Kong Chinese
merchants.
6. The efforts of his Kuo Min Tang agitators in Hong Kong during 1919, 1920 and 1921 to give a political turn to all the strikes. This was regarded as a feeler to his power over workers in Hong Kong.
7. The former activities of Che Ying Pak (see above) at Amoy urging on the anti-
British boycott.
8. The request by Che Ying Pak (head of the Mutual Aid Society, ie, the "Wu Tso Che," and henchman of Sun Yat-sen) asking Chen Chiung Ming to authorise a serious boycott against British trade in South China; the refusal by Chen; the subsequent strike by Che Ying Pak; the order given to him by Chen to settle the dispute by the 4th February; the virtual defiance with which this order was treated, and the fact that Che Ying Pak is still in office.
9. The fact that, consequent on Chen's efforts to end the strike, speeches were made in Canton accusing him of being in favour of "foreigners
" and "capital."
10. The recent movement by San, whilst in Canton, to open Whampoa as an ocean port vis-à-vis Hong Kong; the failure of this scheme being closely followed by his efforts to paralyse the trade of Hong Kong in the present strike.
It is our opinion that Chen Chiung Ming and his military party are not in accord with Sun's policy.
Evidence of this consists-
1. In the efforts of mediation made by Chen Chiung Ming, until the activities of Sun (described above) proved too much for him without an open break with Sun, which for many known reasons he cannot at present afford.
2. The activities of his military followers in Canton in disarming and punishing
those guilty of intimidation on behalf of the strike.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.