CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 15

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Shanghai, 11th December, 1925.

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We are not sure whether any representations have been

made to His Majesty's Government with a view to alleviating the

appalling state of affairs which has prevailed in Swatow since

30th May last. Apart from the complete cessation of British

trade the indignities British subjects have had to suomit to are,

to say the least of it, deplorable, and unless something is done

to improve matters not only will our prestige in South China be

irretrievably lost, but the "Red" influence at present effective

in Canton and Swatow will in time probably extend further North

with results which can only spell disaster for all foreign

traders and particularly the British. Byen now we understand the

situation at Amoy is most unsertain and it would not warprise us

to learn, at any moment, that this port had come under the contral

of the "Reds", fo realise that the Chamber are unable to suggest

any remedy for the present state of affairs, but, all the same they

should, we think, record what is happening at Swetow and request

the Legation to advise us whether they contemplate any action

calculated to remedy the hardships endured by British subjects

and restore British coastal shipping in the trade there.

All Chinese office and Household Staffs in British

employment are intimidated and prevented from returning to work

and it is impossible for individuals of firms at Swatow to OB-

tablish any direct personal communication with their Chinese. The

result is that British suŭjects at Swatow have to undertake their

own cooking, washing and sanitary measures. Japanese vessels,

which have hitherto been the means of supplying food stuffs to

residenta in @watow, under threat of renewal of the boycott

Secretary

British Chamber of Commeras, •

Shanghai.

against