THE ORIENTAL BOYCOTT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 174, 16 April 1908, Page 7

THE ORIENTAL BOYCOTT.

TO CONTINUE. by TELEonAru—press association—corviuGn? ■|' J 'Sydney, April 15. The Grand Master of the Chinese Masonic Lodgo iir Austtalia ; ' : that r th'e ; boycott 'against Japan js ,to contimio.' 110 claims tliat, Australia' will benefit largely from China's commercial awakening. ALMOST A WAR. , ■■ CANTON FIRM,'I'EKING . WEAK. -■ The gun-running Japanese steamer Tatsu Maru—full name, Daini Tatsii Maru—was captured by three Chineso cruisers, under Capt., Wu Ching Wnng, who is a graduate of Yale University. The llong-Kong correspondent' of the Sydney * "Daily Telegraph", gives a spirited account of, the seizure, '• and the subsequent •events. He writes:— .-•'>.•

, "While, the .Daini .Tatsu Maru, escorted by the Chinese'cruisers, was steaming to Whampoa Captain] Wu was reminded that threo Japanese cruisers woiu in Hong-Kong Harbour, and was asked what he. would do if, they attempted to. resouo the :captured steamer. ' Open firei and send her- to tho bottom,'- curtly replied Wu. Those who know him say he would certainly have done it had occasion arisen. When the steamer arrived at Canton,: . ,tlio wires began to . buzz. : The first news received here appeared-',in the -'China. Mail' on Fobruary o.' Intense indignation was aroused in Japan at tho seizure, and the Shipowners' : Union of Tokio and the Tokio Press generally urged the Japanese Government to demand the immediate release of the, steamer. ■ It was claimed that the arms and ammunition had been,shipped with the permission of tho Kobe authorities, and- of the Macao Government, and that the,Daini Tatsu Maru anchored so far ' from _ Mabao because her draught would not permit her to entor the har.bour. The Japanese Government accordingly demanded the release of the steamer, through the Consul at Canton, but before tho, demand could be mado tho Chinese Viceroy had confiscated the vessel. As significant of. the: attitude ot the . Japanese, towards tho, Chinese,' it. .may .be mentioned'that in tho courso of.negotiations the Japanese Consul, pontrary to'all the etir quette of diplomatic intercourse, . sent a memorandum to the ,Viceroy, in Japanese without a ■ Chinese' translation.' This may 6eom a small thing in itself, 1 but. to a race so punctilious as the Chinese it jn,eant a lot, and: was/accepted as,'a deliberate insult. , PEOVINCIAL VERSUS CENTRAL GOVERN-! .; MSNT. "Now aroso a very singular position.. The 1 Canton Government absolutely refused to release tho vessel', but tho Peking Government showed signs of weakening under tho.ropoated of. the Japanese Minister. 'The Viceroy at Canton was backed up by the gentry and Press, who urged him not to disgrace China by yielding, to force when China was manifestly in tho right. Although an old man, tho Viceroy, hns plenty of. spirit, and he declared that lie would on no account release tho vessel. But while the province proposes, Peking disposes. Sir Robert Hart counselled the surrondqr of the vessel. China proposed Chat the question should bo remitted to arbitration, and tho vessel released under a guarantee from the Japan Government, to return her in - case tho arbitration went against her. But Japan would'have n'ono of .this. The vessel was to bo released without delay, compensation was- to bo paid, and apology offered, and tho Chinese officers punished. Still the Viceroy held out, and he' was encouraged by the general voico of the people of tho two' Kwang Provinces. . Thon the Japanese cruiser Idzumi, which had been in tho harbour, paid a friendly visit to Canton. Simultaneously, telegrams from Japan stated that a squadron was preparing for .'special' servico at Snsebo. At this juncture, tho Japanese Minister at Poking presented what was practically an ultimatum. Tho steamer was to be released, and the Japanese flag was to be jiven an 'expiatory salute' at tho spot at wTitcli slio was seized, ■ Compensation was to be paid for actual loss, but. there was to be no punitive compensation. The Chinese Government was to bo allowed to purchase the arms nwl aiiininjiition to prevent them from falling into the hands of tho rebels. , - PEKING CLIMBS DOWN. "Poking, which had exhibited weakness throughout, agreed to .those terms, and ordered the roleaso of the vessol. The utmost indignation was expressed in the Canton Press, and at meetings of tho gentry and merchants. Tho Viceroy is also terribly chagrined. But tho order of tho 'control Government has to bo obeyed, and in a day' or two the Daini i'atsu Maru will make her appcarancc in this port. But the matter is not yet over by any. means, and. before long Japan will ■ probably bitterl.v rue the indignities she has heaped upon her great, but now powerless neighbour. The Chinese in all the Treaty ports in China, iu America, Australia, and any other place that could bo reached by cable have been asked to join ill n boycott of Japanese goods. In ovory instance .those communicated with have enthusiastically agreed' to join in the movement. Japan is just on the threshold of learning that tho present gain is often the future km."