27 FEBRUARY 1926, Page 4

Last Sunday the ports of Canton and Whamboa were dosed

to traffic by order of the Canton Commissioner of Customs. This action was directed against the strikers' at Canton who, as a culmination to their long boycoVt of British trade, have arrogated to themselves the powers of the Customs Authority and have also seized cargoes and sold some of them. The Commissioner has an-' flounced that the ports Will not be reopened till the Strike Committee has surrendered the cargoes still in its possession. Although the Commissioner's stroke has nothing to do directly with the boycott his action may bring the whole strike and boycott under international' discussion. The boycott ,of British trade by in practice giving preference to other • nations infringes the Washington Treaty of 1922. * * * *