May 12.
The epithet ''brilliant'' is often, perhaps, too lightly applied nowadays. But we think our readers will agree that it is fairly used of Mr. Gilbert's review of the seamen's strike at Hongkong which appears in! this issue, a story that may well be destined to mark an epoch in the relationships of Chinese and foreigners cannot escape sonic share of the blame, though indirectly, for the conflict. The indescribable sheep-like panic with which the Chinese in Hongkong were smitten, when Canton ordered the general strike, is the most interesting psychological phenomenon of the whole story. One may be forgiven for thinking that people who can behave so cravenly must expect nothing else than to be treated as an in-foreigners.
His article is dis-ferior race and kept at arm's tinguished both for the mass of length. Nevertheless, the strike extraordinarily. interesting matter contains a warning for the he has collected and for the cool foreign community by no means judgement that he brings to bear. only of Hongkong. Sir Charles We emphasize the clear disproof Addis was undoubtedly right brought by Mr. Gilbeft of certain saying that the old generation slanders which have been com-of Chinese are virtually finished monly believed up and down the and that it is with Young China coast. Thus it is shown that the that we must henceforth reckon. shipowners, so far from treating The answer to this dictuni, how-the. seamen's first application ever, "is a question: What is witl® haughty. silence, were at Young China? If it is only a much pains to find out what the; collection of Vehmgerichts and anion was, to get in touch with secret societies composed of arrow it and to meet its representatives gant self-seekers, there is no ju frank discussion. They only hope for China, whatever foreign found' that the representatives communities and Powers may would discuss nothing and were' attempt.
But to believe that is} obviously never meant to nego-; an extreme and narrow view. tiate. From early days irresisti-The Kuomintang may vaunt ble proof accumulated that the; themselves on*victory over Hong-strike was political, not economic. The responsibility of the Kuo—mintang has been proved beyond j any reasonable doubt. © During the strike we more than once said that we did not believe the Canton Government engineered it. That opinion may, perhaps, stand, with this reservation— kong, but it is the kind of success that may well.contain the germs of destruction, for it will have excited in Chinese as_ well as in foreigners new and well-founded misgivings of this sinister organization. Rightly regarded, the strike may thus be the starting-point of a better era in the relationships of Chinese and foreigners, in the fulfilment of which hope Mr. Rodney Gilbert's mission should play no small part.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.