CO129-498-3 Canton boycott- prospects of restoring normal conditions 20-12-1925 - 24-12-1925 — Page 28

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merchants and strikers to arrive at an amicable settlem

ment

Mr. Sung reminded me of the Chinese proverb

that a match-maker could bring the parties together,

but could not guarantee that children would result. They

would keep in close touch with the Hongkong Government,

and officials would exchange informal visits, if it should

I appear that this would help the situation in any way. expressed my very great obligation to them for the friend- ly manner in which they had received me; the frank manner in which they had discussed the problem, and for their

kind hospitality. I would inform the Governor. Sung asked me to express to the Governor his appreciation

of the latter's hospitality.

Mr.

As we were leaving I returned and asked

if I might speak privately with Mr. C.C.Mu. I said that, as a new-comer to Shame en I was impressed by the extra- ordinary state of affairs. It seemed to be in the position of a beleagured fortress, a position which was

at least anomalous, appeared to be quite unnecessary. As our Governments had a arrived at a friendly understand- ing, could not Mr, Wu meet the Consul -General half-way and arrange for Shameen to be opened up for ordinary ingress and egress. I was not suggesting a lifting of tha boycott. It would of course be a necessary condition that the Canton Authorities should effectively control the strike pickets sonas to prevent any possibility of an incident. Mr. Wu replied somewhat bitterly that the fault was entirely the Consul-General's with his absurd wire and sandbags for which there never had been

He any necessity, this had disappeared months ago. would however meet the Consul-General halfway in the establishing of friendly relations and he would guarantee t.at the strikers' pickets would be effectively

controlled.

conversation

I informed the Vice Cohsul of this