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to take charge of the "reformed" Seamen's Union
was murdered in the street on the 8th instant
150
and the body of another, killed in the bomb outrage
reported in the secret despatch of the 10th August,
was exhumed and mutilated.
4. On the other hand General Cheung has
publicly announced his hostility to Communism and he is apparently preparing to disband the band of
patriots who style themselves the Hong Kong-Canton
Strike Committee. As this organization is the main
home of the professional boycott-picket, its
dissolution, on whatever grounds, is a step in the
right direction.
5.
You will no doubt be aware that the Canton
Authorities are attempting to impose a new import
surtax of a quarter per cent ad valorem on the pretext of raising funds for the disbandment mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The levy is of course very small, but I am in complete agreement with His Majesty's Minister in regarding any imposition beyond the Washington surtaxes as a matter of vital principle, to be resisted to the utmost of our ability. Arragements have been made for a joint protest by the British, French, Japanese and American representatives and I am disposed to think that the project will then be allowed to drop. Should the protest fail to attain its object, however, the next step will be a matter of considerable difficulty, owing to
the unsuitability of the Consular Clearance system
to Canton trade conditions.
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