This action was criticized in some quarters. Two independent candidates, onca Briton and the other of another foreign nationality were nominated But the official ticket was adopted, though the attendance at the poll was deplorable. The two Japanese headed the list by several hundred votes, and only 1,587 out of an estimated total of 3,852 votes were recorded, of which British voters contributed only some 565. It was evident that different tactics would have to be adopted if the British voting strength was to make itself felt.
Another joint meeting of the three Committees was held in October, 1935. At this it was decided to appoint an Executive sub-Committee with power to employ a paid organizer, to attempt to mobilize the British vote. Each British Committee nominated two members, a substantial sum ' was guaranteed for expenses, and in November it was announced that It, Colonel Hayley Bell had been ap-Pointed as paid Election Agent. The name of the Committee was changed to "British Election Committee," with Mr. W. S. King as Chairman and Mr. Reader Harris as Vice-Chairman.
This Committee felt that the practice of nominating its own "ticket" was open to serious criticism, and that it would be more in accordance with democratic principles to call for nominations, and if they exceeded five in number, to select the British candidates by a "Straw Vote." The Committee approached 19 qualified
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