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there would in the future be continual risings against
him because he was too dishonest, too much given to
favouritism, had no political morality and was too fond
of power.
Mr.Imai added that the Japanese had always
put Yuan on a level with Teen Ch'un-haan in the matter
of general ability; but while Yuan is more Machiavellian
Tsen is honester and probably the stronger man.
He went on to observe that there was no political
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morality in China, and that the Kwo Min T'ang could not
be worse than Yuan. If they won Tsen would be President.
These views on the part of the Jpanese Consul- General show a strong bias in favour of the Revolutionary
party. They are inconvenient views in a Japanese
Consular officer in Hongkong.
Mr.Imai
concluded with a homily on the
desirability of the obserience of strict neutrality
in the present hostilities.) Mr.Hallifax listened
Mufam patiently and committed himself to nothing.
3. Tsen is of course well-known in Kwang tung and
Kwangai, of which latter Province he is a native. AB
Viceroy of the two Provinces he was very popular for a
time, bub so unpopular did he become during the tenure
of his office that he went in fear of assassination.
In Kwang si where he spent much of his time during his
Viceroyalty quelling rebellions, he was so hated that
the tombs of his ancestors at Hai Lin were dug up by
the natives and the bones scattered broadcast. This
led him to leave Kwang si as a pace of residence
and he has since, when out of employment, lived at
Shanghai. He is a man of a low Mongolian type with
cruelty stamped on his face.
4.
I have
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