neither retractation, explanation apology, but appeared chiefly concerned to lament the "misunderstanding" of which Mr. Henry seemed to think the college ad been a victim, No further violence occurred on any large scale apart from the usual isolated acts of brutality by intimidators and the strike and boycott settled down sullenly to an obstinate continuance which, as regards the boycott, has not yet lifted, although an insignificant trade is done by stealth. All the animosity continues to centre on the British; foreign vessels are allowed to trade to Canton, but they have to pay a large squeeze to the strike committee on every cargo and it is open to doubt how long they will find the game worth the candle. The strike rapidly spread to Swatow, which the Reds had recaptured from Chen Chiung-ming in March, where it became dangerous for a Chinese to be seen speaking to a Briton, and H. M.S. Bluebell did manful work all the summer, not only provisioning the little community, but even cutting the ladies' hair. At Hongkong the strike was fought with great severity and agitators when caught were punished in appropriate ways, but nothing could break the boycott. On August 27 a mass meeting was held to ask the Hongkong Government to urge the Home Government to take drastic action. A second meeting was held a few weeks ter, which telegraphed to London direct, pointing out the desperateness, of the situation and the urgent need of strong measures. But the British Government seems to have felt that any show of force would merely have been playing, into the hands of the Reds by courting var with China and nothing was done.
In the early autumn—it is impossible to be exact as to date—Chen Chiung-ming the old antagonist of Dr. Sun—started movement against the Canton Reds, had me successes and recaptured Swatow. But his success was short-lived, his troops were smashed by Chang Kai-shek, the Red General, aided by the Whampoa' Cadets, whom the Russians had drilled, and the Reds were again in the ascendant in Swatow in November. Their power now extends all over Kuangtung, Kuangsi and They form an entirely indent State in China, and although have been openly denounced by the White Kuomintang from Shanghai and Peking and the general Chinese reaction against Bolshevism is becoming increasingly marked, it is difficult to sce how not the slightest doubt tha the Peking" Government did give money to the strike, funds nor and an order was actually published in June by the Ministry of Communications that every employee of Posts, Railways and Telegraphs must give one day's pay per month to the cause. To the best of our knowledge, however, this was never enforced. The common explanation of Peking's behaviour is that the Govern ment was in a very shaky position befor May 30 and caught at any straw of popula favour to maintain itself in office. In Juls the servants were actually called out at the British Legation and attempts wer made to wreck the water and sewage sys tem. So fur from preventing this out rage Marshal Tuan's reply to Mr Palairet's protest was couched in terms that could only be taken ax expressing sympathy with the strikers, With such Government representatives of the Power: now sit—or are supposed to be sitting; al the time of writing Peking has not fel sure enotyh of itself to continue the negotiations for over 12 weeks—in con ference with a view to making it all kinds of concessions. which, if ever realized will do infinite harm to China, But thing are possible for diplomacy in this countr; which would not be thought of in ani other.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.