CO129-502-8 China- general situation 27-4-1927 - 15-9-1927 — Page 111

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in the port of Canton was suspended. The effect

was to all intents and purposes a blockade of Can-

ton: and the Canton Government gave way very

rapidly. On the 25th February thirteen cargo- boats, representing a respectable proposition of the goods seized, were surrendered to Colonel

Hayley-Bell by the strike pickets and the Canton

Government issued a proclamation, the draft of

which was approved by Colonel Hayley-Bell,

endorsing the Customs' claim to first and last

examination of imports and exports and prohibiting

any interference with Customs' procedure and

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Customs' employes. The Commissioner then allowed

the loading and discharge of vessels at Canton to

be resumed at noon on the 26th February, 1926.

His action has its effect within four days.

(b) The Senior Naval Officer, West River,

reached Wuchow on 12th June, 1926, in "Tarantula"

to discuss with Mr. Kung Kit Yuen, Commissioner

for Foreign Affairs the matter of the murder of

Mr. J.N. Phillips, and to obtain pilots for the

higher reaches of the river.

Mr. Kung sent his assistant Mr. Fong Tse

Kung on 14th. Mr. Kung pleading sickness. Delays and prevarications on the part of the Chinese

authorities ensued until on 23rd June, 1926, the

Senior

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