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Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1927, Page 2

An inside story from China in these later days when cabled news has grown so scarce, will he ol interest. A Shanghai correspondent writing in April of the general situation affecting the upheaval, says:—An extraordinary feature of the situation is the silence that has so far been maintained by the more responsible Chinese in regard to tlie outrages committed by the “ Nationalists ” from which they have suffered fpiite as much as the foreigner. At last they have become articulate. Three of the most influential Shanghai merchants have circulated a telegram throughout the country stating, among other things, that the Communists, having depended upon the Nationalists and made use of the word “ Nationalism ” Lo strengthen their position, and themselves having been induced to support the Soviet, have bribed the young students, the ignorant runners and the uneducated labourers to help in carrying out their nefarious pi'ans for the disturbance of the districts. Consequently, the students have suspended their classes and given up learning, the farmers have ceased to cultivate their land, the labourers have declined to work in the mills and the factories, the merchants have been hindered from carrying out their business pursuits peacefully, and the womenfolk are considerably alarmed. It is pointed out that, by their underhand methods, the Bolsheviks havebeen responsible for tumultuous meetings and processions and disorderly strikes to oppress the “capitalists” and to force them to comply wit’ll their demands for ever-increasing wages. The focal gentry and merchants, whom the people have always recognised as honourable and just leaders, are bitterly hated by them. The blame the rich people for “severity” and yet they j steal botli official and personal property. They make arrests at random and they murder innocent people at will. It anybody opposes them he is branded as a counter-revolutionary and is killed immediately. The telegram coiiciViiles :—“ There is one important point all should take note of ami that is that we are merchants and that we j have properties like many others, yet j our movement can be as patriotic as that of tlie Communists, if not more so. We are connected with no political party nor do we work for any political party for political power, and we do not aspire to political positions. Being patriotic Chinese, therefore, it rests upon us ami on all other patrioticChinese to do our duty and exert the best of our efforts for the protection and salvation of China. We cannot and must not sit by patiently and let! the Communists spoil our country, with its civilisation several' thousand years old. We should wake up at once and associate ourselves, brothers and sisters, with our fellow citizens for the overthrow of the Communist devils, and for the welfare of our country.”