CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 150

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HONGKONG

Enclosure 15.

DAILY PRESS

TUESDAY.

AUGUST 18.

1925

THE BOLSHEVIK POLICY IN CANTON.

MR. C. J. B. HELLSTROM'S LECTURE AT THE

"REDS"

THEATRE ROYAL,

CONSOLIDATING THEIR POSITION,

A GLOOMY FORECAST.

The crowded attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening to hear Mr. C. J. B. Hellstrom's lecture on Bolshevism in Canton was ample evidence that feeling in the Colony is running high on this particular subject. There were calls for another public meeting unless the Home Government quickly decides what action shall be taken to put a stop to the boycott which is doing such injury to all trade interests-British as well ns Chinese, and it was promised that, untess some definite policy was laid down by the Foreign Office within the next week, such a meeting should be held.

Mr. Hellstrom drew a very gloomy picture of the future if the Bolshe- viks are allowed to catablish themselves permanently in Canton, and following Mr. Helistrom, came Mr. A. MacGowan, a resident of many years standing in Swntow, who gave a short but vivid account of the harm the Bolshevik infinence is doing in that Port. No Chinese dare even speak to a British subject in Swatow. If he does he is liable to he beaten and paraded as a prisoner round the town by the strike leaders who are

now in undisputed possession of the district. Treaty rights are being openly and flagrantly disregarded everywhere and what the meeting wished to know is when the British Government are going to take steps to enforce respect for them, It is a question which all foreign communities in China are now asking.

Mr. D. G. M. Bernard presided at the meeting, and in addition to the lecturer, there were on the platform the Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak. the Hon. Mr. A. O. Lang, the Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster. the Hon. Mr. H. W. Bird, the Hon. Mr. Chow Shou Son, Mr. A. H. Barlow, Mr. J. Owen Hughes and Mr. A. Macgowanj of Swaton.

THE SILK TRADE.

QUESTIONS

Questions were than invited and 乖 At the conclusion of the paper Mr.number were asked, Mr. Hellstrom, in Holyoak quoted from letter he had each case, giving a prompt and effective morived that morning with regard to reply to the enquiries.

the silk trade in Canton. It was an Hon. Mr. Holyoak: 1 should like to established fact, he said, that the Canton ask Mr. Hellstrom what is happening authorities would not permit any cargo with regard to land owned by Chinese to come to Hongkong, which demonstrat capitalists; also, what have been the ed their determination to enforce the conditions in Shameen since June 23rd ? anti-British and Japanese boycott to ita Mr. Hellstrom: The Bolsheviks in fullest limit. The silk merhants, there Kwangtung have taken the liberty of fore, had decided to engage the China Mer-confiscating the land of the holders and chants' steamer Nhin Chau to load ap- resting it for half the rent previously proximately 3.000 bales of raw silk and paid. They are doing the same as was 500 piculs of waste silk, and it was esti-done in Russia when the revolution: inated that about 80 per cent. of the occurred. With regard to Shamen it has silk dealers would embark for Shanghai, been cut off entirely from the Chinese, thus threatening a tempory transfer and no Europesu can go into the City; of the silk business to Shanghai.

All supplies are now sent up from Hong- The situation in Canton, he con- kong but for a week we were without tinued, is so critical and the faith in bread, and had the greatest difficulty in the present Government so small, that the obtaining potators. Every third night Chinese are willing to risk any additional and every other day we do duty. Of expense in order to get their holdings, course, we have to unload all the goods and, incidentally, themselves away from now sent up from Hongkong and s

the City. The Red element is determined Chinese servants have left us, we have

to do its worst to smash up all trade with

to do our housework and sanitary work.

tong and their policy of confisca-1 Br. H. R. Wells: I should like to ask cou and terror is uaturally driving out how long the lecturer has been away from all trade and business interests."

Moscow, and how much opportunity he has had of seeing the results of Bolshevik rule in Ranka Í

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