Swatow, Dec. 10.
There has been little change in the boycott situation here daring the past two weeks. Local dealers have been very largely deterred from importing or handling British goods, and dealers in other ports have been seared by the telczrams and other messages sent out from here, and are not using British shipping to anything like the normal extent. At the sume time there has for been anything in the nature of direct interference with either the skipping or landing of goods. The decree welch has gone forth is that fil British goods in stock in the shops must be cleared out within the [Chinese year; and that any found thereafter will be confiscated, and penalties unspecified imposed on the offenders. This is by way of demonstrating the spontaneous popular indignation which is supposed to exist, and indeed to be increasing every day.
But the chow is rather given away] by a pathetic notice that has been appearing in the papers for a week, past by the "Representative committee for the extension of the anti-
British economic boycott," which emphasizes that the responsibility for carrying on the boycott now] rests with the general public, and that, whereas instructions had been issued that all shops must before November 27 send in a statement all British goods in stock, this has been done by a very small number indeed, and that this indicates a ross failure in duty; wherefore the time has ben extended for another: week, after which inspectors will be sent round to make investigation, and delinguznts will be severely) dealt with, Tt is surely time for the too long. suffering merchants and shopkeepers to take their courage in both hands and refuse to be bullied in this fashion any longer. One cannot help feeling that the agitation is tottering badly, and only needs a push to send it over altogether; and they are the people who could administer it, if only they dared. But it isa big "if."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.