No.64.
sir.
453
Appendix "O".
H.B.M. Consulate-General,
Canton,
12th April, 1916.
Since I last had the honour to report on the political situation in this province there has been no change, it not, 88 a matter of fact, having yet developed. Nor will it do so until the conference between the heads of the independent party, of which so much is expected, has taken place. Lu Jung-t'ing, accompanied by Liang Oh'i-ch'ao, is due to arrive from Kuangɛi in two or three days time, and Ts'en Ch'un-Hsuan is said to be leaving Shanghai for the South shortly. A number of additional
names are mentioned in this connection, but I do not think that
the bearers thereof mostly notorious bandits who figured in the first rebellion of South against North
-
-
will be consulted.
I am entirely in the dark as to the nature of the topics which will come up for discussion. According to rumour the setting up of a Southern republic, with Ts'en as President and Chang Ming-ch'i as Secretary of State, seat of Government Canton, is contemplated. The principal one will, however, I imagine, be the question of how to eliminate Lung and his troops, and this
is a matter at present greatly preoccupying the minds of well-to-
do citizens. Another report has it that he will exchange
provinces with Lu. It would serve no useful purpose at the moment to inflict on you the hundred and one other stories which
circulate from day to day, or to speculate on the attitude
eventually to be adopted towards the North.
As was only to be expected, the declaration of independence has relaxed the bonds of discipline mid sporadio fighting is
The Rt. Hon. Sir John N. Jordan, G.C.I.E...‚K.C.B...„K»O»M«G»,
His Majesty's Minister,
PEKING.
going