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No.86.
458
Appendix "B".
British Legation,
Peking. 31st March, 1916.
sir,
With reference to my despatoh No.76 of the 20th instant regarding the rebellion in South-western China, I have the honour to report that the secession of Kuangsi and the cancellation of the monarchy have been followed by renewed activity on the part of the insurgent forces. In Southern
There
Szechuan, instead of the Government troops advancing into Yunnan as had been anticipated, the rebels are back on the Upper Yangtze and are again attacking Luchow. Other rebel forces have
penetrated into the South Eastern corner of Szechuan from Kueichou and Hunan and are threatening the river below Chungking, thereby imperilling the main line of communications of General Teao Kan's Northern army. The insurgents are also reported to be meeting with successes in Western and Southern Hunan, with their rear no longer threatened by the province of Kuangai - is little reliable news of what is actually happening, but for the past few days the Feking press has ceased to publish reports of Northern victories. The Government profess to be anxious that their forces should mark time while efforts are made to induce
the Southern Republicans to be satisfied with Yuan Shih-k'ai's
renunciation of the throne, but the cancellation of the monarchy may have a demoralising effect on the Northern army, whose leaders were being stimulated by rewards of money and the bestowals of titles of nobility. They are now no longer fighting for Yuan Shih-kai as Emperor, but for his retention as President; while the issue of the Mandate of renunciation was intended to place the Peking Government in the right. it is regarded in the South as a tacit admission of the righteousness
The Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., K.G., M.P.,
etc., etc., etc.,
of