CO129-536-6 Anti-Japanese Riots 28-9-1931 - 25-2-1932 — Page 57

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has happened, and that the acts committed were in the

main by less responsible people, and that probably evil

influences were behind them.

I wish to pay a tribute to the work done by

the Police in the course of those riots. They had a

difficult task, for the disturbances were very sporadic

in nature, and just as they seemed to have been quelled in one place, they broke out in another.

It has been suggested in some quarters that.

the Police were not sufficiently backed by Government,

but I am sure that the Inspector General of Police

will endorse my assurance that such was not the case,

and that any help asked for by him was at once given,

I and any measures suggested by him carried out.

have seen it stated that the Police were forbidden to

use their revolvers until things came to

that these orders had to be disregarded.

truth whatever in such a statement.

such a pass

There is no

It would be as well to recapitulate the

course of events, giving information as regards the action taken. On Wednesday, the 23rd September, China

declared what has been usually described as a day of

humiliation, and it appears that a certain number of people in this Colony flew flags at half mst. This, in itself, is not an illegal act, and it did not appear

that any bad results were likely to follow. That evening there were some mild demonstrations at Wanchai which were promptly dealt with by the Police.

On Thursday, the 24th, in view of the possibility of any trouble occurring, I had a conference with the

Chinese members of this Council. I gave instructions

to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to warn the editors

of the Chinese Press that nothing in the shape of anti-

Japanese propaganda should be published in their papers

and