Swatow, Sept. 29.
The methods of the boycott pickets in hampering the trade of Japanese merchants in this province have brought the Japanese consular offcials ut Swatow and Canton into an serimonious controversy with the native authorities, and the situation bids fair to be serious. The Japanese consular officials itave made " full report to their government at Tokyo, urging prompt action to put a stop to the activities of the Loseott pickets. Until a fow weeks '40, the pickets remained content with "fining" native merchants wko handled Japanese. goods, but at the prevent thine the procedure employed is to seize goods in transit. Nor do the pickets stop at that, for they fare even harassing the servants of the Japanese into leaving the services of their employers. Those who refuse to be intimidated are drag: ged round town, with arms bound and, a "fool's cap"" on the head bea ing' the inscription "This man a trofter to his country", "Patriotism at 20 Per Cent Boxes have been placed by the pickets at various points for the purpose of collecting information regarding transactions between Japanese and Chinese traders, and tthe informer is promised 20 per cent, of all sums securing from goods seized as a result of information supplied.
During the last few days, the Japanese consular officials here and et' Canton have strenuously protested against the lack of control over the pickets, but the Chinese authorities' persist in. explaining that the boycott is a "patristic move. ment" and they are, therefore, unable to do anything. Whereas formerly the authorities seemed anxious to avoid friction with the Japanese, they now give the impression of being willing to force fan issue with them. At first, every effort was made to remove the anti=
Japanese posters but these are now common sight, even being put up
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.