The Hongkong Government appears rather indifferent towards Canton's latest overtures. While the Canton delegates have been appointed, those representing Hong Kong have not been announced. The difficulty seems to be—that both sides are never eager at the kame time to arrive at an agreement, Any competent observer cannot but feel that bargaining plays no mall part in this game. Unies the responsible parties signify good will and sincerity of purpose, a hopeful outcome still lies in the No matter what Canton does or thinks, there is one-man whose activities are watched with great concern on all sides. This General Chiang Kai Tu view of the fact that he assim power of a dictator by Appointment as commander-in-chief of the eight armies, rightly or wrongly Hongkong thinks he frag much to do with the boycott.
behooves thinking people, therefore, to know something about this Chinese "Mussolini" as the local press style him. Prior to, their Feturn to Canton, one of the Canton delegates when asked whether Chiang Kai-shih, would like to end the boycott replied in the affirmative Hee said that Chiangy merely acted in accordance with the wish of the people; and if the Cantonese wish afta th Hongkong, General to terminate the present state of
Chiang will not place any obstacle! ju the way. The Canton spokesman! added that the dictator seldom meddles with civil affairs but} Gevotes his time and energy to the] military training of his troops, 1 Pickets the Obstacle That the majority of the people in Canton, especially the merchants, desire to resume normal relations with Hongkong admits of little doubt, It is the Strike Committee who oppose any settlement, as they are now reaping a good harvest by] accepting bribes from passengers} Jeaving for Hongkong, confiscating, Imperialists' goods, and occupying premises without payment of rent. The merchants throughout the! boycott have never approved, much {Jess supported it, but on the contrary, contradiction, and that is that it will do its "utmost to settle the they hope that the matter should ended as soon-as possible. If} Chiang Kai-shih follows their wish, the boycott would soon be a matter' of the past. It is because his government requires funds for the upkeep of the soldiers that negotiations are again renewed. The assertion that Chiang rarely pays atter to. civil affairs ridiculous. Wang Ching-wei_ and] He Han-min who were civil officials were obliged to leave office because they could not agree with Chiang! strike, for the simple reason that it is sick of the whole business, the strike having degenerated into iganti robbery, extort tion and "squeeze.
'The Government realizes that the income of the idle working-men derived from fines imposed on those who violate the rules of the strikers' Central Executive Committee, from the sale of goods confiscated by the pickets, from the donat overseas Chinese and other ex fs more than enough to pay all the of the strikers. Not in regard to the non-military policies cent is paid for housing, the strike of the Kuomintang. His latest act] headquarters, dormitories, and {s the detention of Wu Tieh-chen eating places being private property former police commissioner. This which the workmen are occupying undoubtedly comes within the without payment of rent, nor do the jurisdiction of the city mayor, strikers pay for electricity and water yet the men who arrested Wu were that they use. Yet the Government] sent by Chiang. If the ex-police has been obliged to pay a sum chief has done anything illegal or of money which is said to be criminal, the investigation of his the neighbourhood of $10,000 per conduct or imposition of any punish. day, to buy food for Hongkongment shoald not be dealt with by Shameen working-men. a military commander. It is difficulty The Government can ill afford to to accept the statement of the Can-pay 80 much money daily now that ton representative on its face value, 8 northern punitive campaign is Anglo-Chinese Paper being organized, which must prove The "Hongkong Uustrated Week-very costly. ly" makes its. first appearance this morning. This paper is profusely
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.