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 31

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hoard that there woro about 270,000 strikers, of whom

thero word at least 40,000 in Ca ton. Assuming the number

of strikers to bc 150,000 and the average wages o

month to bo 350 we could more or less imagine that

mount. I in my turn laughed and said that I thought

ovon America could not pay such 2 sum.

Mr. Ju stated that it was true that Mr. Fletchor

had boon up; Mr. Flotchor scomod to think that the

domends which related to politics or to the Honkong

Government could bost be discussod bot oon the two

Govornments. Ho made it clear that the Canton Government

could not negotiato by displacing the strikers, but he

had intimated that if all the torms which rolatod to mer.

cconomics had been settled to the satisfaction of the

strikers, he would endeavour to find some formula,

afterconsultation with the strikers, under which tho

Canton Government would discuss the rest of the torms

with the Hongkong Government.

165

In the course of this very longthy discussion Mr.

Wu scomed to have great difficulty in understanding

hy the four delegatos appointed by the Hongkong Government would not come up to negotiato. I profosscd

completo ignorance of the history of negotiation botwoo.

Hongkong and Canton but I told Mr. Ju fully what had

happened when the Canton dologates arrived in Hongkong and how it camo about that the Chinoso morchants approac.ou the Chinoso Mombors of Council to get the Hongkong Government to make the appointment of officiel dologates (i.c. to comply with the oxprossed wishes of the Canton

dologation).

Mr u also dealt with the position of tho

Canton Govornmont. The Canton Government was an interested

party