2.
friend into Northern camp. But it was evident from
the way Ting spoke that he regarded Sun's position as
the most precarious,
71
I saw Sum at Hengking yesterday and it was evident
from the nature of the reception that he was particular ly glad to see me. I expressed usual friendly senti-
ments towards China and thanked him for his co-operation
in dealing with various questions affecting Shanghai. Marshal, whilst very friendly, was naturally reserved in his opinion. He said Ting had informed him of his
conversation with me and he wished to endorse views
Ting had expressed. He said his personal view wes
that internal struggle might continue for years until
it produced a great leader with sufficient personality
to unite China, but of this leader there was at present
no sign. He was however quite convinced that whatever
the immediate result of the civil war might be Chinese
people would themselves throw off Bolshevism which was
quite alien to their nature. He would not admit,
possibly owing to presence of others, that there was
a moderate element in Canton party who might be in-
duced to listen to reason, when he concluded he begged
whatever success Canton might have even if they should
reach Peking we should not recognise them as government
of China.
At present I do not profess to seeing clearly how
we are to deal with independent leaders such as Sun if
anything comes of our contemplated conversation with
Scuth.
I imagine that anything in the sense of treaty
revision would apply to all thins without distinction
but propose to reserve that for future consideration.
Addressed to Shanghai for repetition to Peking,
Tokyo, Hong Kong Canton and Nangking.
Mr. Lempson ( gr. undec.).
P.0.