eos
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No.4 Enclosure in Mr. Jamieson's No. 33 of ay 12th, 191
EXTRACT FROM CANTON TIMES May 12th, 1921.
A Crop Of Rumours.
The sudden departure of the Hong kong Governor for the north on a fast warship, and his subsequent arrival in Peking about the same time as Sir Robert Ho Tung reached there, has given rise to a crop of rumours that will not down. The
Other Chinese Comments.
THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION
TO THE SOUTII,
(Shen Chow Jih Pao.) Warlord Two Kun and Warlord Chang Tsu-lin have declared in favour of a punitive expedition to the South to put down the new government of the South with Dr. Sun Yat-sen as its newly elected president. The scheme is to send Northeru troops vis Kiangan and to use the troops for reinforcing the troops to he despatched by Fukien and Kiangai for participation in the expedition. Without commenting on the wisdom or folly of the measure contemplated, let us express the firm opinion that this campaign will be bound to end in complete failure.
Why has the state of belligerency fact that the Hongkong Governor and between North and South
been
rumours.
Sir Robert Ho Tung were entertained suspended by Peking and Canton? Has together by Hau Shib-chang basa atste of mutual understanding been added considerable zest to these arrived at? The two sides gave up lighting because each realised from The rat rumour has it that experience its lack of the needed Governor Stubbs made his trip to resources to bring the campaign to a Peking in the interest of the British successful issue. In suddenly deciding Syndicate headed by Major Cassell, on the measure of suppressing the aud in connection with the Casseli new movement in Kwangtung, on Coal Mining Contract, Under a what new sources of military powera clause in that document, it is do the warlords depend? What are necessary for the British Syndicate the untapped veins of offensive to obtain the approval of the Peking strength? Government before the terme of the The warlords of the North do not contract can come into effect. It is seem to realise that they have known that Major Cassell failed to get not yet established a spirit of this approval when he went up mutual trust between themselves and to Peking last year. Governor the militarists of Central and Stubbs, so the Chinese believe, Southern China. The idea of sending has now offered Hau Shih-chaug Northern troops through Kiangsu a quid pro que for his official territory will certainly not be toler sanction to this outrageous agreeated by the Tuchun of Kiangau. Inent. In exchange for Pekings Tuchun Li Hou-chi of Fakien has, approval, the Hongkong Government since last year, been reported as is reported to have agreed to re- being in secret alliance with the cognize the "paper unification Military fiovernment or carrying on mandate". So far as Hongkong is negotiations with this end in view. concerned, this arrangement would The attitude of Lu Yuug-hsiang, result in outlawing the present Tuchun of Chekiang, has been, as Cantonese leaders and would give has been characterised by the Peking direct British aid and assistance to politicians, "somewhat muddy." the Kwangsi militarists in their fight Under this clout of mutual listrust to return to Kwangtung.
and suspicion, it is humanly im possible for the militarists in Central and Southern China to how to the
Another rumour is to the effect that the British Government has
decided to return Weileiwei to will of the Northern warlords and
Chius on condition that the Houg to pull together in a joint expedition. kong Government will be permitted The wisdom of Dr. Sau in Laving to extend its boundary up to Shek- himself made president without lung aud Whampao shall be brought having first paved the way by nuder British jurisdiction. It is rallying around himself a strong maintained by those who accept this body of ataunch supporters anong report, that Hongkong does not the influential military leaders in the want Whampao developed into a port South, is indeed questionable and for thie would seriously affect the tempta one to ask: "How long will trade and commerce of Hongkong. the president sit securely in his Still another rumour which has presidential chair?" But the wisdom been spread in a vain endeavor to of the proposed punitive expedition explain Governor Stubbs' trip north, to the South is very much more to be attributes it to British concern for questioned. The whole situation is the construction of the ling proposed perhaps another trick of humbug on loop which would counect the Canton-the part of Chang Teo-liu, who Kowloon Railway with the Yuel-ban realising the infensibility of hta Railway. The British authorities "patriotic" canpsigo, made all the are willing, ( gues the rumour) to agitations for a farcical show, using finance this project and also under-it incidentally a 1 "feeler" for take the construction of the Yueh- ascertaining the attitude of the Fan live from Shiukwaa to Hankow.militarists in the provinces.
Oshere see still deeper political
significance in this much advertised trip. They conteud that Great as
our Hongkong contemporaries Britian and Japan have come to an profess to be. Some of these rumours agreement regarding their respective are receiving wide credence among spheres of influence in Chias the Chinese of Canton and Notwithstanding the opposition of Ilongkong. We do not hesitate America and some of the Dominions, to say, we believe Governor Stubba the Anglo-Japanese Alliance will be visit to Hsu Shili chang has some renewed. Great Britian, therefore, important political significance; but ngrcea to give Japan a free hand if proseed for the concrete evidence worth of the Yangter; while Japan up in which we base our belief, we will support British pretentions in enuhi uot give any. Call it intuition, South China.
deduction, or political sagacity, if There are other rumours too you will, there is something which namernus to mention. These vary convinces me that secret diplomacy is in range, from the perfectly innocent going on. Furthermore, we believe desire on the part of Governor Stubbs | Kwangtung is involved in the negotia- to escape the heat of Hongkong, to tions. Whatever it may be the the preposterous claim that Hongkong Cantonese lenders must be on their has aggressiva designs for the reixure guard. Recent official proclamations of the whole of Kwangtung-
issued by the Hongkong authorities
The CANTON TIMES does not swallow are proof positive that Hongkong any of these rumours, We are as officialdom is hostile to the present much in the dark about this atte: Canton Govcinment.