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Eventually we arrived at a working arrangement which I subsequently communicated to the Police. Asked
about taking more drastic measures, he said that what they would do in Peking or Mikden was quite impossible here owing to the liberal policy declared by Sun and to the personality of Sun himself. Unduly drastic measure, he thought, would operate adversely in any event owing to the immense pro-Southern feeling
in Shanghai.
Asked what were Sun's ultimate military intentions
in regard to defence, Ting said that in his opinion
Sun would undoubtedly fight it out to the last ditch.
All things considered, I think the indications
point to the eventual collapse of Sun and to the
replacement of his authority in this region either by
that of Chang Chang-chang from Shantung, or of the
Nationalist Army of Canton. If the former it means,
so far as ve are concerned, littbe more than the
substitution of one military administration by another
and rather less efficient one
But if the military element of the Nationalist Party should gain control in these parts, I believe that we have good reason to apprehend very considerable difficulties. I am told by one of the Cantonese already referred to, that even before he was forced to leave the Government a year ago, the Northern Expedition [ frequently discussed at meetings of the Executive Council,
Taa
of