American Legation,
Peking, July 26,
1905.
No. 39.][Inclosure.]
[Extract from North China Daily News of
July 21, 1905.]
Notes on native affairs—The American
boycott.
Very nearly 1,500 persons attended the mass meeting called on
Wednesday afternoon at the Wupên Girls’ School, outside the west
gate of the native city, to discuss the measures with reference to
putting into operation to-day the boycott on everything American as
a protest against the proposed new Chinese exclusion treaty, the
period of two months having expired yesterday afternoon, the 20th of
July. There were also a large number of Chinese ladies, both old and
young, present, who followed with intelligent interest the speeches
that were made at the meeting. This alone shows that China is indeed
awakening when over a hundred ladies attend a mass meeting specially
meant as an assembly of the sterner sex. Besides the members of the
Chinese Educational Association and older students of twenty-odd
schools there were present a large number of delegates from the
chambers of commerce and kindred associations of the majority of the
treaty ports and from many inland cities and towns who had come to
assure the Shanghai committee of their hearty support. There were
also present Messrs. Su Pao-sên and Shao Ch’ing-tao, leading members
of the executive committee of the Piece Goods Guild; Sze Tse ying,
of the executive committee of the Silk Guild; the chief partners of
the Old Shun Kee, South Shun Kee, Ching Chan, and other hongs
representing the kerosene oil trade; a partner of the Shêng Yü Hong,
the leading sundries goods hong in Shanghai; a partner of the
Tabaqueria Filipina, and others representing the cigarette trade; a
representative of Ko Tze Hong, the leading Chinese iron and metals
hong in Shanghai, and representatives from the Native Banks Guild,
ginseng trade, hemp sack, flour, sea delicacies, and other trades;
also representatives of leading Canton, Fukien, Plankow, and
Shantung hongs, and representatives of the local Chinese Chamber of
Commerce and Commercial Schools Association, and others too numerous
to mention, making a total present at the meeting of over 1,450 men.
There were quite a number of eloquent and patriotic speeches made,
in which the speakers exhorted every one present to maintain a firm
front to show to the world that in this instance, at any rate, there
is a united China. “For,” said one gentleman (Taot’ai Ma), “some
Americans have sneered at us saying that there is nothing to fear
because we Chinese never can unite. Even the previous United States
minister in a recent speech made the same sneering allusion. We will
show by precept and example how fallacious an idea this is on the
part of such Americans.” Other speakers showed how little Japan by
her unity and determination had beaten her huge opponent Russia,
showing the world what Asiatics are able to do when thoroughly
aroused. Can not China easily do the same? Can not China by a united
front and firm determination obtain her desire, also, by the repeal
of the Chinese exclusion treaty? At this stage of the proceedings
the members of the Piece Goods Guild came forward and swore that
beginning from the 20th of July they had decided not to buy any more
American piece and other goods until the purpose in view of the
nation had been properly obtained. The meeting was then asked for a
show of hands that beginning from the next day no one present would
purchase or contract for any more goods of American manufacture.
Everyone present raised his or her hand. The meeting then separated.
It may be stated that a discussion ensued near the end of the
meeting as to what should be done with regard to such American goods
as are still in the hands of merchants and traders here. It was
unanimously declared that everyone present would do his best to
assist by every means in his power to get rid of their goods, so
that no one need lose by the boycott.
