Cantonese Government Always Able to Control Strikers: How Is Failure (o Do So Would Split the Last Figment of Unity and Force the Powers into New Policy" torial headed "The Signit the Canton Customs Issue" says:
"The Commissioner of Customs at Canton has definitely raised a Vital issue with the Government at Canton by ordering the closing of the ports of Canton and Whampoa.
"He argued that seizure of goods was a violation of China's treaties. There can be no doubt that the Canton Government could, if it hose, prevent the interference the strike committee with the shipping of Canton—eertainly the Canton Government recently made many claims of its complete control not only of Canton but of all eastern Kaingtung. The Commissioner is right in saying that the action of the strike committee in seizing gonds so as to prevent their passing the Customs is a violation of treaties. foreign as well as in affairs, but one such a. breakdown quent necessity that the Powers should deal individually with se-atate parts of China would enormously complicate the already overt confused situation and also might easily'make real again the danger of creation of spheres of influence and even of the partitioning of ina, "The Canton Government, therefore, in dealing with this Customs question, would do well to remember the gravity of the situation it may create by definitely severing few remai ties which keep the China nominally united in her foreign relations, Te will be no light matter," the paper concludes, "if Canton takes the lead in breaking up China a national unit among. the Powers."—Reuter's Pacific Service.
Lack of Authority Confessed How the Pickets Beg:
"I€ the Canton Government does not stop these seizures, therefore, it acknowledges its lack' of authority or definitely repudiates the treaties.
"This is not, the first time that the Canton authorities have had an argument with the Customs officials, Dr. Sun Yat-sen in December, 1923, threatened to take over the Customs administration and the revenue of Canton. The—principal Powers promptly despatched warships and Sun gave up the plan, there has-been much talk" amon those connected with the Canton administration about of taking over the The closing of the port by the Commissioner thus simply rings the issue into the open.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.