Ta-chun, now commanding the Provincial and local troops respectively in Canton, appear to be anxious to afford the non-Kuomintang-ites as well as non-workers equal protection. It is believed, however, that there is still likely to be no little opposition to a sudden return to the normal order of things in Canton.
The Unpopular Boycott Notwithstanding the activities of the anti-British Boycott Extension Society in Canton, it is estimated that most of the firms that deal in foreign goods hold 40 per cent. more British goods. The failure of the larger shops to lay in a full stock for the year-end business has been due to the unsettled conditions Drought about by labour tyranny. general, and not to a desire to shut off any' particular make of goods.
The anti-British boycott society has received from the Strike Committee a number of cases containing coeds seized during the boycott but not disposed of at the time of the restoration of—Canton-Hongkong traffic, and the society is having them Gleared as fast as it can. Last week-end still saw some 280 cases left unclaimed. Owners able. to prove that that their goods are not of British origin may withdraw them, Kuomintang Ministry of Finance is still issuing an order for $10,000 they were stuck 17 Li out. On the 20th I sent out men to help them Jcarry in their loads. Thus they came in on the 12th day from starting. The roadside inns were full of barrows that could not go on their way; and all this on the main road bbetweon two important cities, with much traffic.
Thus is China stuck in the mud, ages, or toiling she begin to share the great relief from such slavish, beast of burden jabour, that civilization has brought} to other countries These coolies struggle through the mud and snow with their feet always wet. Sometimes they go barefoot, but more often they wear' straw sandals, with squares of white cloth wrapped around their feot instead of stockings; white before it came in contact with the mud.
And still they live and continue Canton for the support of unemployed workers. This money comes from the surtax on imports and Jexports which is collected under the name of domestic consumption and protection tax.
So far only Wuchow has a strong. anti-British Boycott Society directly working in conjunction with that at. Canton; but the professional labour Teaders' connected with the move-
Jment claim that agents have already been sent to Shanghai and that as soon as that port comes under Kuomintang control, an active movement will be launched there, The Canton Seamen's Union is still detaining the three China Merchants' S. N. Co's vessels, not, even allowing the consignees to order the unloading of the cargo fon board.
The Salt Bureaux in Canton and Swatow are to appoint agents to Fukien to take control of the salt. tax collection there. Since 1918, the Canton authorities have been gradually collecting all the salt tax that was formerly under Peking's
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.