BOYCOTT AGAINST JAPAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9068, 18 April 1908, Page 4

BOYCOTT AGAINST JAPAN.

The Chinese of both Sydney and Melbourne are now contributing their quota to the boycott set up in China of Japanese Some six or seven weeks ago the Chinese Customs seised the Japanese steamer Tatsu Maru at Macao, and removed her flag and arms for an alleged breach of international law —carryin;: arms for the rebels in Kwangtung. When Japan insisted that China should release the steamer, the latter suggested reference of the matter to a mixed Court. Japan's reply was the despatch of the cruiser Edzumi to Hongkong, though, it was declared, this was not intended as a menace. Later on, Japan having repeated her demand, and stated that she intended to uiDhold the dignity of the nation, China not only backed down, but, through the Governor of Pekin, expressed deep regret at the removal of the Japanese flag. China further suggested th.it the Tatsu Mam's arms should be returned to Japan, and that Japan on her own account should suppress the trade in munitions of war to t!u mainland. This was eventually agreed to, and China apologised for the incident. But the whoi'i cireumsta'ices have fomented the bad feeling which has been long slumbering. Whilst the final disposal of the Tat;*u Maru episode ■was stiil in abeyance, a monster meeting of Chinese in Canton, resenting the release of the steamer, resolve J tu'boycott Japanese manufacturers. Last month there was a demonstration in Canton in favour of the boycott, when Japanese garments were burned and many buildings draped in mourning. The fact that the Chinese are building vessels of their own in order to be able to compete with the Japanese trado lines shows their determination in the matter. Meanwhile the Chinese merchants in Australia are backing up their countrymen in China by establishing a boycott in everything relating to the trade of the Japanese nation wit 1 ) the chief ports of the Commonwealth.