In conversation with a representative of the '"'North-China Daily News'' on Monday, a gentleman who has just returned from Hongkong gave some interesting information on the strike situation. There is unfortunately no direct indication of a settlement, but the Government and the shipping representatives are disposed to frank and fair treatment of the men's demands, and the terms of settlement offered are such as one supposes would have been readily accepted in ordinary circumstances. It is therefore impossible to avoid an inference that the men are not holding out solely on economic grounds and fine points of principle.
Despite official denials to the contrary, the: belief is gaining ground that there are politico] influences at work behind the movement, with an object in view not purely economic. In this connexion, it is interesting to note that anti-foreign proclamations of a articularly virulent character have recently made their appearance in Canton, a little effort in propaganda by the Canton Communist Association. The President of this body, Che Ying-pak, visited Russia in 1919, a delegate despatched by Sun Yat-sen, and representatives of the Soviet are now resident in Canton. It is probable that these gentlemen are not entirely disinterested observers of the situation. It is noted that the Canton authorities have taken no special care to prevent the issue of these proclamations.
Tae Want or Commopitirs, Canton itself is beginning to suffer from the strike, though to no severe extent at present. Merchants are able to get their goods down to Canton, but as no payment can be made until the goods are shipped, many of them are being hard hit. The stock imported goods is also rapidly diminishing, but this shortage does not. greatly affect the majority of the population. Trouble is to be expected, however, when the rice supply begins to show a serious shortage.
One interesting fact emerges on the question of official support to the strike, viz., a proposal recently made by the manager of the Chinese section of the Canton-Kowloon Railway that a surcharge would be levied for the benefit of the families of the strikers. If this report be true—and there is no reason at
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.