The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-27

ing arms in the colony. Further proof
of the violation Of clause will be
superfluous.
Lest it should seem that the first
and second clauses are much too lib
eral on the part of the shipowners, il
must be explained here that, firstly,
the said pay for a period not exceed
ing five and half months is no
more than a beggarly compensation
for hundreds Of the victorious strik-
ers whose positions had been taken
by the Philippine and other strike
breakers, called to Hongkong by the
shipowners.
Understand Capitalist Society.
Be it understood, that the Chinese
seamen have no grudge against the
strike.breakers, for they know that
unemployment is an inevitable char
acteristic of the capitalist society and
unemployment is the mother of strike
breakers.
Secondly, these clauses were won
by the seamen as a result Of a vic
torious life and death struggle for
ffty-six odd days. Settlement was
delayed just because of the shipown
ers' reluctance to accede to these very
clauses, thereby prolonging the I'M
heard of hardships and damages suf-
fered by the seamen and the common
masses Of Hongkong.
However, up till now, not cent
has been paid by the shipowners, in
spite of the agreement in black and
white. Where is fairness" in the
hands of the capitalists? Where is
the "sacredness" of agreement with
the capitalists? And where is the
Flaw" in colony?
British Colonial Government Ignores
Seamen.
The Chinese Seamen's Union in
1923 referred the matter to the British
colonial government in Hong Kong,
but the latter washed its hands of the
matter, despite the fact that his mai
esty's consul-general was a signatory
to the agreement.
Chinese seamen demand the British
colonial government, signatory to the
agreement, besides protecting the
shipowners, to heed the seamen's de-
mands. They demand his excellency,
Robert Hotung, a British knight who
has proclaimed q so-called peace con-
ference professedly in the interests of
the Chinese people, to fulfill his duty
as guarantor ere he speaks again.
They demand the coming British
prince investigate into the scandalous
deeds of the colonial government and
the shipowners and to mete out due
punishment, lest he should reveal a
princely Imperialism.
Several thousand Chinese seamen
are entitled to five and a half months
pay, the total sum exceeding 100000.
They are clamoring for their right.
full compensation. The Chinese Sea-
mems Union, representing their in.
terests, will never neglect its duty
and will realize at any cost the con-
ditions won by the victorious strug-
gle and heroic sacrifices. These can
ditions were by no means gifts from
the shipowners.
The Great Battle With Imperialism.
Those who will recall the fifty-six
odd days of life and death struggle in
1922 Of more than sixty thousand sea
men and eight combatant unions, the
sacrifices Of the workers and the
panic caused by the blockade of
Hong Kong as a result Of the Interrupt
ton Of communication, will agree
that whatever was acquired was ac-
quired by the united gigantic power of
the workers themselves. There is no
need to recall already the machine
gun patrols OF the colonial govern.
ment ready to massacre the workers
at the time.
For a United Front.
The whole body OF Chinese seamen,
100000 strong, are prepared They
I appeal to their brother workers in
China and in all countries, particu.
larly the seamen. and their organ
izations to help their Chinese booth.
ers in their present Just demands!
Hand in hand in a glorious united
front, they have every reason TO ex.
pect the day in the immediate future
when the British colonial government
and the shipowners must redeem
what they have hitherto atrociously
violated.