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crew had been sent on, and giving their names and wages in
three lists. At the bottom of each list is a place for the signature of the "The delegate of the Chinese Seamen's
Union, Swatow Branch". The crew duly arrived in the Colony, and the matter came to the notice of the Harbour liaster
when it became necessary to sign the crews off and on; Monday afternoon, 12.9.27. He referred at once to the Colonial Secretary. On Tuesday, after a discussion at the Secretary for Chinese Affairs' Office at which were present
the Attorney General, the Harbour Master, Mr. Nemazee, Captain
Inglis, and Mr. Ko, and Mr. Grimble (who gave the details
of a charter, and stated that the exact composition of the
crew was not the affair of the charterer - an efficient
crew provided by the owner was all he could demand; but that the losses consequent on a boycott at Swatow would
fall on the charterer and not on r. Nemazee). His Excellency
granted an interview to owner, Captain, Attorney General, Harbour Master and Secretary for Chinese Affairs. After
discussion, His Excellency directed that the new crew from
Swatow should be informed by the Police that their passages
would be paid back to Swatow by the sailing of Friday 16th
September; that these members of the crew who did not take advantage of this offer would have to find their own way back; but if they were later found promoting agitation or sedition, or making any trouble in the Colony, other measures for their
removal would be taken. Mr. Nemazee, who was aware that
the Government had no power to issue instructions to him in
the matter, (this point having been made quite clear during
the discussions of the morning), agreed to retain his original crew, intimating that he only wanted something to shew that
the action he was taking was not entirely of his own
origination.
(Sa). E. R. Hallifax, Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
13th September, 1927.
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