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 56

18.

78

15.

That for the sake of tho Chincso in Hongkong they

woro willing for an early settlement. They would

not dream of returning to Hongkong until all their

domands had boon sottlcd. As the strike was novor

directed against the Chinoso, it was unthinkable for the strikers to negotinto with roprosentativca of Chinoso merchants; they wanted no money from the Chinoso; the Hongkong dologotos must appoint

dologates to discuss all the terms with thom. As the strike was not for economic but purcly politicol

reasons, it was impossible for them to discuss tho

so-called economic terms with the Hongkong merchants, nd ho invited the Hongkong merchants to assist then to attain their objects.

A fcw other speakers spoke in the sumo strain. Mr.

Choy Siu Woon and I both spoko in cxplanation, to the

3.fcct that we understood the strikers were willing to

soparate the terms into two clossos, and that it was becaus

of thoot, it was folt by the Chinoso in Hongkong that, th ́u

being the position Chinose dologationm without the necessity of any interpreter, could bost and most spoodily negotiate the cconomic terms, and so we consented to

come up.

I said irrospective of success or failure of our

mission I welcomed the opportunity of mooting thom and

of ronowing old acquaintancos, reminding them of the

professional services which I had rendered to some of them in the past and expressing the hope that merchants and labourers would cooperate and discuss any question

that might arise in the interest of both in the future.

Altogether about six strikers made speeches includ-

ing Mr. So Siu Ching who made a lon ̧ speech towards the

end. They all expressed appreciation of our motives for

coming up, and sincere thanks for our trouble, and a few of them spoke highly of the services I had rendered