213
overseas to the strikers in Canton. There is
evidence also that the leading men throughout China are realising how grave the danger is that the Canton Reds, unless speedily dealt with, may become sufficient.
-ly powerful to overrun the whole of China. General Chan Kving-ming arrived in the Colony from Shanghai two days ago, and at an interview yesterday morning he informed me that he had collected or had promises of a large number of troops and that he was about to start a campaign in person for the purpose of evicting the Bolshevista from Canton and of bringing the province under the control of the Central Government. He asserted that he was acting under the authority of the Central Government and that he had definite promises of support frèm
Marshal Wu Pei-fu. There was, of course, the
invariable difficulty of lack of money and munitions but he hoped to find means of surmounting this. Past experience of General Chan Kwing-ming's military operations does not inspire one with confidence in his ability to cope with the present situation, and I must confess to grave doubts of his chances of success. It is however the case that he has a strong following amongst the Cantonese, and with the backing of Peking, if he really has such backing, and aided by dissensions which are beginning to appear amongst his opponents, he may manage to reach his goal.
A liberal supply of arms and money would almost certainly turn the scale, but such assistance would be more effectively employed if given to some outstanding leader, such as Marshal Wu Pei-fu, having the direct and open mandate of the Central Government. General Chan Kwing-ming's campaign has already
been