BOYCOTTING JAPANESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 14

BOYCOTTING JAPANESE.

MOVEMENT IN CHINA. SEIZURE OF CARGOES. WHOLESALE CONFISCATIONS. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SHANGHAI, Fob. '23. A party of Chinese aimed with Mauset pistols and rifles last wcck boarded a harbour registered lighter, moored alongside what is known as the Kiukiang Road Jetty, in the heart of the foreign settlement of Shanghai, and only a stone s throw from the Custom House. The armed party arrived by a largo steam launch, intimidated tho watchman and crew of tho cargo boat, attached a tow rope to tho lighter and towed it to tho Chinese city, where tho cargo of pioco goods valued at approximately £4OOO was appropriated. According to the story of the watchman on duty on tho lighter, on the night in question he observed a steam launch approaching the Kiukiang Road pontoon, after making fast to tho pontoon, an armed party boarded the cargo boat. I lie watchman was informed that the visitors were members of the Anti-Japanese Boycott Association and they proposed to confiscate tho goods on board tho lightor because they wcro of Japanese oiigin. Tho watchman and crew replied that tho goods wcro in tho care of a British firm and were stored in a British lighter, and thorofore could not bo touched, but their arguments wcro of no avail, they were horded together at tho point of pistols, and a tow rope from tho launch was attached to tho lighter, which was towed If) the native city. The most amazing part of the episode is that the confiscated goods wcro stored in a godown belonging to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai. For several days unsuccessful attempts were made by the owners of tho cargo to secure the release of their goods. The matter has been referred to tho British Consul, who is negotiating with tho Chinese authorities through "diplomatic channels." it is understood that, in the present case, forco will not be used; it remains to be seen what can be accomplished by diplomacy only. Two days after a party of Chinese removed d, large quantity of Japanese piece goods from a wharf in the Native City of Shanghai and stored them in a godown belonging to tho Anti-Japanese Boycott Association. Tho same day 100 packages of Japanese artificial silk piece goods valued (it approximately £3OOO were removed from another godown. Shipping company officials and merchants who have had occasion to meet members of the Anti-Japanese Boycott Society say that they are of tho student type, young ;uid truculent and ignore all protests put forward by their victims. Jt is reported that the goods confiscated will be hold until heavy fines have been paid by the shippers and that the total amount ot tines so far collected on confiscated cargo runs into many thousands of pounds. What becomes of this huge sum collected in fines is not stated. What will be tho end of these illegal raids and wholesale confiscating of cargo, because it happens to bo of Japanese origin, no one can foretell. The British authorities have elected to settle the question by diplomacy, but the Japanese are beginning to get somewhat restive and will probably temper their diplomacy with n little force not altogether wholesome for members of the Anti-Japanese Boycott Association.