CHINESE CRISIS

Grey River Argus, 24 June 1925, Page 5

CHINESE CRISIS

HONG KONG STRIKE i N( Unprecedented Position ' .re (■ o SHANGHAI, June 22. The fourth day of the general strike. ! in Hong Kong is witnessing a condi- • tion unparalleled in its history. I Through secret organisations financed from Canton, Chinese in British and | foreign employ have been intimidated in a. manner dislocating the shipping, commercial and domestic life. Emphasising Canton’s connivance at the anti-British movement, the sec ret ary of the' Chinese Seamen’s Union declared. in an English newspaper, that “The Union has no sympathy with the movement, but is acting on orders from Canton.” Strikers generally admit no grievance against the employers and were unwilling to strike. Nevertheless, the agitators’ styled “Dare to Die Corps,” have terrorised the Chinese populace resulting in a senseless frantic stampede to Cant(.*n. All available trains ami the other hand Hong Kong authorities state that they are fully prepared to meet the emergency, assuring essential services. PEKIN, June 22. A telegram from Hong Kong says that the Government has issued a proclamation, containing emergency regulations, providing for censorship of telegrams and letters and police control of premises, vehicles, fuel and foodstuffs. The following are exportable under license only:—Rice, flour foodstuffs, gold and silver coin, and bank notes. Chinese compositors and Coolies at ‘The Daily Bulletin” Office struck. The compositors at other European printers threaten to walk out iu the evening. AT OTHER PLACES. PEKIN, June 22. Canton’s community kitchen has been establshcd Europeans are dong the cooking. Marines are operating the water works. Unarmed volunteers are patrolling Shamcen. The Kwantung Students’ Associaton issued a statement urging a boycott and strike, adding: “We must join the soldiers and go out to fight the foreigners . At Swatow, Amoy, and Foochow, the situation is fair. Demonstrations arc continuing but strikes are not spreading. At the Yangtze ports the position is unchanged. The Coolies at Wuhu assaulted a Japanese Salt Commissioner whom Chinese police there upon arrested on a charge oi being in

possession of arms. At Hoihow . and Hainan Islands, there is great unrest and anti-foreign agitation. Strained relations between the students and the Chamber of Commerce are revealed in the extremist propaganda, partly directed against the Chamber, while the moderate strikers suggest reopening, if the shops and banks adequately con tribute to the cost of the strike. THE PARIS CHINESE RAID PARIS, June 22. The raiders on the Chinese Legation were apparently, nearly all workmen, seemingly hailing from all the provinces of China. The Legation believes that the motive of the raiders was patriotic, on the ground that the Chinese diplomats were not taking active enough steps to submit Chinese demands for emancipation from foreign control to the Governments to which they are accredited. Members of the Legation deprecate the methods adopted as harmful to th? Chinese cause and emphasise that the raiders in no way represent the whole Chinese colony in Paris but rather an extremist group affiliated to the extremists in China. The Legation suspects non-Chinese elements behind the coup, which had evidently been most carefully planned. They hint that the hand of Moscow is • possibly working. The French police are inquiring into the matter. Interesting revelations are possible. HONGKONG PRESS WORKERS OUT HONG KONG, June 23. Volunteers are controlling the streets Nearly all the Chinese in the English newspaper offices struck. The dailies are issuing reduced editions. HONG KONG BANKS CLOSE TO PREVENT A RUN. (Received June 23 at 7.45 p.m.) PEKIN, June 22. All Chinese banks in Hong Kong have closed, the object being to prevent a run. Strong armed guards arc posted at the bank entrances. 6