CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 499

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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 Kwangtung.

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 Kwangtung, through you as their Foreign Secretary, that any attempt to penetrate on to the British Concession on Shameen 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 organize, 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, 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 unoffending Chinese youth. (A copy of this dispatch 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 Shakee creek, with regard to

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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 the honour to be,

Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,

CHAO CHU WU, ESQUIRE,

ETC., ETC., ETC.,

(Sd.) JAMES JAMIESON,

Consul-General.

BUREAU OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

CANTON.

APPENDIX C.

U. S. S. Asheville, Canton, China, 23rd June, 1925.

Statement of Four (4) Eye-Witnesses of the Attack on Shameen, Canton, China, this date.

At about 3.15 p.m. to-day we were watching the demonstration procession from two different positions; this procession was composed of various guild organisations. Included in which were members from the mechanics, the servants' (male and female) and the seamen's guild; school girls and boys, boy scouts and a body of uniformed but unarmed cadets, these cadets are reported to be from Whampoa Military Academy. These cadets were followed by several companies of soldiers, some of whom had bayonets fixed.

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