To the Editor of the "NonrH-Cuina Datty News."
Sir,—Will you kindly give the same prominence to a statement of facts, a8 you gave to an article from your Ichang correspondent concerning our Company and the pilot strike at Ichang. This correspondent of yours has written without knowledge of the true situation.
Prior to the commencement of the pilot strike February 18, the Yang-tue River Conference lines called meeting at Butterfeld's office to discuss the situation. These Conference. Lines are the N.K-K. China Navi Ca. Ltd, Indo-China N. Ca. Ltd, the San Peh Company, and the China Merchants S. N. Ca. Ltd.
Although we have never been member of the Conference, we were asked to join. with the above Companies in presenting a united front to the strikers' unreasonable _demands. This unity resulted in a reduction in the pilots' demands to increase of 15 per cent in their pay, as against their original claim for'a 65 per cent. rise.
After the strike had been on for about 10 days, the pilots informed the Conference Lines that they would accept an increase of Mex, $30 per month as a mess allowance. The Conference Lines agreed to a special service allowance of this much, but when this werd reached Tehang there was no disposition on the part of the pilots to resume. Thus the matter stood until March member, when we, ourselves were never even formally in the Con. ference.. Accordingly we telegraphed to settle with the pilots, and resume sailings, which we did on March 6. These are the facts and they cannot be denied.
Lam, ete, President Shanghai, March 24; 1980.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.