CHINESE CREW ARRESTED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 22, 19 October 1937, Page 5

CHINESE CREW ARRESTED

Ship Under Charter to Japan (Eeceived 19, 10.50 a.m.) NEWCASTLE, Oct. 18. The police to-day arrested the Chinese crew of the British-owned cargo boat Silksworth on a charge of boing absent without the master's leave. The agents for the vessel stated today that the Chinese actually had sanctuary on a British ship, which would not be afforded them at Shanghai, Nanking or other Chinese city, - i I A message was received from Canberra to-day saying that the Chinese could land under a bond of £100 each pending the -gpttlement of the trouble, failing which the Chin'ese would be shipped back to China. The Chinese Con3ul-General in Sydney, Dr. Pao, declared to-day that nobody could compel nationals of another country to perform duties which would assiSt their country 's enemies. This, he said, was a political, not a legal question. The Silksworth is chartered by a Japanese firm and is boiind for Dairen, iu Manchukuo. Tho Chinese crew have taken up the attitudo that they will not be parties to transporting flour and gypsum to* the attackers of their own countrymen. The executive of the New CaStle Labour Council is chlling on all British and Australian seamen to refuse to man the Silksworth. It was cabled yesterday that "the Newcastle nnions have ranged them* selves bqhind the Chinese creW, and in the event of legal proceedings being taken against the Silksworth 's crew the local unions will extend the dispute to Melbourne."