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therefore clear that the system is the worst enemy of the foreigners themselves, since it is an obstacle to perfect friendship between them and the Chinese and because it
may bring
on consequences which make the innocent suffer as well as the guilty. It is hardly necessary for me to add that there is no hint of xenophobia in the movement. To try to give it a bad name by calling it anti-foreign is merely an evasia of the issue and, what is more, a confession of weakness. The world-wide expressions of sympathy received by the Chinese people from even the homes of the system showi that the true character of the movement is rightly understood.
my
I have written at some length in order to remove what I believe to be misunderstanding of the nature of the issue on your part. I trust I have made clear. Should you still desire to see me, Mr. Sung will arrange a convenient time.
I am, &c.
CHAO CHU WC
however, being taken to guard against acts of mob violence, such as have occurred at Chinkiang, Kiukiang and Hankow, and, should unfortunately they occur here, the blood of those who call upon crowd psychology to commit deeds of violence will be upon
their own heads.
I write in this serious strain so that it may not be said hereafter that brutal Imperialist rifles wantonly massacred noffending Chinese youth. (A copy of this despatch is being sent to quarters where it will remain on record.)
I would in this connection call your attention to the urgent matter of clearing the Shaki Creek, with regard to which representations are being made to the chief of police, and would ask you to be good enough to support them in so far as you may be able
to do so.
I have, &c.
J. W. JAMIESON.
Enclosure 3.
[F 4367/194/10]
ANNEX V.
Consul-General Sir J. Jamieson to Mr. Wu.
Dear Mr. Wu,
Canton, June 22, 1925. ON getting back after my interview yesterday with you I found an offical- wireless message from Shanghai stating that the delegates of the Chinese Chambers of Cominerce there have decided to substitute British and Japanese boycotts for the general strike and that native banks and shops will reopen to-day.
If this information be accurate, it makes the local atrike all the more ludicrous. The place which may be described as the fons et origo mali has called its strike off: here only where foreigners are completely innocent of aggressive action are they to be strafed.
By all means substitute a boycott. Let the righteously indignant abstain from purchasing British goods, from accepting British bank-notes, from travelling by British steamers or trains and, above all, refrain from using British cables for the purpose of transmitting mendacious propaganda.
All steamers suspend their sailings to-day and transmission of mail matter, foreign as well as Chinese, will be considerably hampered.
Sir,
Enclosure 4.
Yours sincerely,
J. W. JAMIESON.
Consul-General Sir J. Jamieson to Mr. Wu.
(Enclosure from Canton Despatch No. 45.)
Canton, June 23, 1925. I LEARN from sources, which I have every reason to believe to be trustworthy,; that, in the course of a patriotic demonstration arranged for to-morrow, the student element intend to make martyrs of themselves by attacking the bridges leading on to Shamien. I am informed that they went to the length of drawing lots as to which association should have the honour of sacrificing itself first in its country's cause,
and that the winning number was drawn by the University of Kuangtung.
This story may, of course, be the figment of a fertile imagination, but if, on the other hand, it have any solid foundation in fact and should action of the kind be contemplated and take place, I have the honour solemnly to warn the Government of Kuangtung, through you as their Foreign Secretary, that any attempt to penetrate on to the British concession on Shamien will be resisted by force of arms, and that for the consequences the Government will be held individually and collectively responsible. As I had the honour to inform you yesterday I do not, nor have I the right to, protest! against any demonstrations which Chinese citizens in Canton may choose to organise, and if there be such I have warned all my nationals to be very careful not to mix themselves up therewith, and in general strictly to refrain from provocative action of any kind in order that the present situation be not exacerbated. Due precautions are,
Admiralty to Foreign Office. (Received September 4.)
THE Director of Naval Intelligence presents his compliments to the Under- Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to forward for his information the attached extracts from Hong Kong Monthly Intelligence Summary for June 1925.
Intelligence Division, Naval Staff, Admiralty, September 4, 1925."
Enclosure.
Extracts from the Hong Kong Monthly Intelligence Summary No. 7, 1925.
12. POLITICAL AND NATIONAL
Events leading up to the Present Situation in South China.
After the strike of workers in the Japanese cotton mills at Shanghai, the students started propaganda against both the British and Japanese in China.
The first incident of importance was the attempt to rush the Nanking Road police station, Shanghai, on the 30th May. The deaths of a few of the rioters were made an excuse for increased propaganda against the British and Japanese.
The trouble eventually spread from Tsingtao in the north, as far as Chungking (Szechuan) in the west, to Holhow in Hainan Island in the south.
Agitators were sent from Shanghai to stir up strife in Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Hong Kong, Canton and Hoihow; their appeals for the moment, however, fell on deaf ears, as the Cantonese had their hands full in trying to oust the Yunnanese from Canton. This military activity had its effect on Hong Kong also, as prospective strikers were disinclined to leave the colony until the situation in Canton became more assuring.
Nothing untoward happened until the Yunnanese were routed; then the agitators again got busy, and rumours of a general strike in Hong Kong and South China ports
were current.
It is reported, from a fairly reliable source, that the crew of the Russian steamship "Kolyma" were heard boasting that they had been poisoning the minds of Chinese in Hong Kong against the British. This Russiau merchant-ship arrived at Hong Kong on the 18th June from Odessa and sailed the following day for Vladivostok.
On the 29th May an officer on the staff of the Yunnanese General Yang Hsi-Min called on the consul-general, Canton, and informed him that the Cantonese were going to attempt to drive the Yunnanese out of Canton. He stated that if the Yunnaneзe were defeated, the extremists in the Cantonese ranks would get the upper hand and a whole, would be most the position of foreigners in Kwangtung Province, as unenviable. He further stated that Yang Hsi-Min would protect foreigners, their
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