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(2).
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large areas were not under effective control of the
south. Could we not talk on basis of actual facts?
I then took the opportunity of giving him first para- graph of your telegram No. 344 to Peking laying
emphasis on recognition of treaties and he made a
note of the phraseology which he undertook to regard as for his information and that of his government
only, and not to be disclosed. I also summed up our general attitude es defined in last paragraph of your telegram No. 8 to liankow beginning with words "Friendly understanding" and again he jotted dorm the words. I ended by saying that I was not authorised to promise recognition in any shape or form but was of course willing to hear him further.
He then rather shifted his ground spoke of recognition, either de facto or de jure, over those areas controlled by Canton but his difficulty was to find a formula which did not recognise the splitting of China; that his party would never agree to. Finally he undertook to send me a private letter giving formula he would like to see adopted on this head.
I said that I would be glad to have his formula as accuracy of text was essential and I would eend it home to my government. But I knew I could warn him there could be no question of recognition unless his government did at least two things, (a) recog- nised existing trecties, (b) called off present anti- British movement. Rather to my surprise, he made comparatively light of this and scid he felt that he would be able to satisfy me on both points.
I ...
But
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