Mar. 2, THE gravity of the news from Hongkong, where an industrial dispute has developed into class warfare, enjoins caution in commenting, might indeed almost counsel silence. But in view of the possibility of reactions elsewhere, it is important to endeavour to get a clear understanding of the issues. Going back to the beginning of things, the men made their first demand for increased wages as long ago as last November. The demand for a flat-rate increase of 40 per cent. to lower grades and 30 per cent. to the higher ignored additions that had not long before been made to the pay of some of the seamen, and must be deemed unreasonable.
On the other hand, would not appear} shown great wisdom or tact in their manner of rejecting the application. The strike began} on January 13 and the following day the Government of Hong-Kong offered to arbitrate, which, however, the seamen refused. In the light of subsequent events this refusal is significant, arbitration and compromise being the breadth of Chinese disputation. Negotiations, however, proceeded between employers and seamen, the latter offering advances ranging from 7} to 25 per cent.,'kong for refusing public recogni-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.