51
53
argument it was the Chinese merchants of both places who
received benefit from the strikers' patriotic sacrifice,
and the British merchants were therefore not concerned in
the question of compensation. Mr. Wu replied that, in the first place, nothing was to be expected from the Canton merchants. They were even appointing delegates to sit with the strikers. Canton was very prosperous, shipping was increasing daily, and a large volume of trade was being
successfully diverted from Hongkong to Canton. The West River trade for example used to be entirely in Hongkong
hands and Canton merchants had now got it. It was the same with regard to the shipping with Shanghai. A large number of the merchants were now opposed to a settlement. As
regarded the British merchants, taking the longer view they were ultimately benefited by the strike, as it would
hasten the independence and so the prosperity of China, with consequent increase of foreign trade. At any rate the
British merchants were interested in the question of
reinstatement. I replied that the question of reinstate-
ment had been fully discussed. There was no rancour against
the strikers personally, and I felt sure that the large
majority would take their men back if they had vacancies
for them. The Commodore, as I had already told them, was
prepared to take back his skilled men in the Naval Yard in proportion as the work expanded and provided vacancies for them. It seemed to me that the reinstatement question
resolved itself into one of payment, and that there was no
ground for the British merchants to come up specially to
discuss it. If the British merchants stood aloof and did not
pay, would the strikers on that ground refuse to negotiate?
The Council agreed that they would not refuse but that the
negotiations would be considerably more difficult. A
settlement was however quite possible if the Chinese
merchants would meet the strikers in a liberal spirit.
The
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.