CO129-498-5 Canton boycott- report on visit to Canton of representatives of the Hong Kong Chinese merchants... 6-1-1926 - 6-1-1926 — Page 25

2.

nor that on the whole they have not financially sufforod But I do bollove that there is a fooling among some

sections of the commercial community that since the

might settlement has not en as yet como about, it N as well

not como about until after the Chinoso Now Year.

As to the attitude of the Caton Officials, I beli

that they are very desirous of an carly settlement, bui especially regarding Mr. C.C./u only on Canton'a torms. Of the officials wo have met, Mr. Wu scoms the least inclined to be sympathetic with Hongkong. I bolicy Mr. T.V.Sung and Mr. Lok King Fo arc honestly desirous

of helping if they could.

Aftor listening to the strikers, I am satisfied that they, too, arc genuinely willing to settle. But thore is no doubt, to my mind, that thoy, like tho Canton Officials, have no love for Hongkong, and I think the reason for their willingness must be looked for in other directions. The conditions obtaining in places

other than Canton may furnish such reasons. No doubt the intimate connection betwcon Hongkong Chinose and

the Chinese in Kwong Tung has to be remembered. Aport from such reasons, I cannot profoss to understand their

readiness to settle, since I understand Cañon can go on

indefinitely in its prosent position.

If I had known all the circumstances of tho

recent "ncgotiations",

28 I

now do, I would have

strongly urged against any dologation such as ours comin up, unless and until information has boon roccived from

or through the Striko Union that they would negotiato

with such dologation, because it was bound to fail, de ou