73
When this meeting between officials and representatives of the Chinese elite met, the latter made their stand clear. Leung On, one of the founding directors of the Tung Wah Hospital, and compradore of Gibb, Livingston & Co., a man well known for his outspokenness, proposed that the Government should issue another proclamation calling the strikers to work, and handed up a draft. It contained words to the effect that the Government had pardoned the rioters on the intercession of the Chinese merchants; Stewart found the implication objectionable and turned it down.
Undaunted, Leong further proposed that the military picket should be removed from the Tung Wah Hospital Hall. He gave no reason for this request, but it is obvious that he wanted to avoid the impression that the Tung Wah Hospital was collaborating with the armed forces in suppressing the people. He also suggested that the Directors of the Hospital should hold a public meeting at the Hospital gates to persuade the people to resume work.
Again, Stewart turned down these proposals. He did not think this was a matter which concerned the Tung Wah Hospital as such. No public meeting could be held without government permission, and in view of the disturbed circumstances it would be inadvisable to hold any gathering.
The merchants also proposed that, if the Government felt it could not issue a proclamation, the Hospital should issue one in its name. This provoked Stewart into telling them directly that this would amount to an abdication on the part of the Government and the assumption of governmental power by the Hospital.
Since the meeting was in stalemate, one of the merchants made a diplomatic speech to reduce tension, saying that the matter was not for any one private corporation or guild, but that it was the duty of all loyal citizens to co-operate with the Government in restoring order and terminating the strike. Finally, before the meeting ended, Stewart approved a proposal for street notices to be issued to induce the workers to return to work, so long as there was no attempt to assume governmental powers.30
73
When this meeting between officials and representatives of the Chinese elite met, the latter made their stand clear. Leung On, one of the founding directors of the Tung Wah Hospital, and compradore of Gibb, Livingston & Co., a man well known for his outspokenness, proposed that the Government should issue another proclamation calling the strikers to work, and handed up a draft. It contained words to the effect that the Government had pardoned the rioters on the intercession of the Chinese merchants; Stewart found the implication objectionable and turned it down.
Undaunted, Leong further proposed that the military picket should be removed from the Tung Wah Hospital Hall. He gave no reason for this request, but it is obvious that he wanted to avoid the impression that the Tung Wah Hospital was collabora- ting with the armed forces in suppressing the people. He also suggested that the Directors of the Hospital should hold a public meeting at the Hospital gates to persuade the people to resume work.
Again, Stewart turned down these proposals. He did not think this was a matter which concerned the Tung wah Hospital as such. No public meeting could be held without government permission, and in view of the disturbed circumstances it would be inadvisable to hold any gathering.
The merchants also proposed that, if the Government felt it could not issue a proclamation the Hospital should issue one in its name. This provoked Stewart into telling them directly that this would amount to an abdication on the part of the Government and the assumption of governmental power by the Hospital.
Since the meeting was in stalemate, one of the merchants made a diplomatic speech to reduce tension, saying that the matter was not for any one private corporation or guild, but that it was the duty of all loyal citizens to co-operate with the Government in restoring order and terminating the strike. Finally, before the meeting ended, Stewart approved a proposal for street notices to be issued to induce the workers to return to work, so long as there was no attempt to assume governmental powers.30
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