CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 197

with the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs by the

Koihow Mission, who doubtless feel that the British

Consulate at the present time is not a very hopeful

medium for obtaining redress.

4. ▲ somewhat similar incident occurred at the

Catholic Mission station near Ting in where in the

temporary absence of the French priest Cantonese

soldiers broke into and searched the premises,

left everything in disorder but did not steal.

196

5. Hoihow and Kiungchow are covered with blasphemŐ U18

cartoons, anti-Christian and anti-"imperialist", mostly issued by the Political Department

of the Navy. The persistent debauching of the

minds of the hitherto quiet and well-disposed Hainanese cannot fail to produce its effect sooner or

later. Copy and translation of a poster issued by the Political Department of the Army is enclosed, Begotiations with a Government that, in the face

of documents such as this, can officially disclaim any responsibility for the blockade of Hongkong and the British boycott seem rather hopeless.

6.

Commerce and shipping have up to the present

been unmolested, As far as I have been able to

ascertain no ploksts have yet arrived from Canton,

but it la believed that a local picket corps

is being formed, The Chamber of Commerce has

been pleading for time before the blockade of

Hongkong is enforced but the military have now begun

to show their teeth. On February 1st a meeting was

convened at the Chamber of Commerce, at which the

merchants were given very bluntly to understand

that the business was to pass resolutions and not

to discuss them, I understand that it was decided

that exports to Hongkong should cease forthwith

and/

}