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on 30018.
to rouse the masses to a new bid for the control
of the machinery of government. The Company's method was unfortunate because, although the new Canton Government was pressing for the reopening
of a reformed Seamen's Union in this Colony, the pro-Communist manifesto which preceded the pro- scription of the Union by this Government (see enclosure to paragraph 11 of my secret despatch of the 1st June) was aimed in such plain terms
But the
at the Canton administration and the Nanking clique as to cut all solid ground of protest from under
the feet of the Cantonese authorities.
refusal of the Hong Kong, Canton & Macao Steamboat Company to re-engage certain troublesome members of the Union (whose very troublesomeness was suf- ficient indication of their power in the Union) gave to the Union a grievances, which it could re- present to be a genuine trade dispute, and to the Cantonese authorities an opportunity of refur- bishing its rather threadbare livery for the great Kuomintang role of Labour's friend by refusing to act against the pickets. I admit that the Com- pany has, in my opinion, had cause to complain of lack of support from the Imperial Government in its efforts to keep the British flag flying on Chinese inland waters: (please see my confidential despatch of the 16th March, 1927). It must also be conceded that the Acting Consul-General at Canton in his correspondence with the Company on this latest outrage emphasized the power of the Seamen's Union even over the reformed administration
at Canton.
* No. C. 30001127 C. [No. 16] + C 30018!27 [No. 16.]; not printer
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