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2.
I attach great importance to this
conference, because it is the first real step made by
Canton towards a friendly understanding with Hong Kong
since the troubles of 1925. If General Li Chai-sum
actually carries out the policy which Mr. Fêng outlined
on his behalf, then i have high hope that before long the
old amicable relations between this Colony and the
Cantonese authorities may be restored. it is, moreover,
significant that this rapprochement will have been brought
about by a Chinese statesman who, although a cantonese,
is the trusted adviser of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, the
Mukden War Lord. Mr. Liang will shortly return to Peking.
On the 18th September I had the pleasure
3.
of entertaining at "Mountain Lodge" Viscount Saito, who is on his way back from Geneva to resume his post as Governor General of Korea. I had a long tête à tête
conversation with him, during the course of which he
drew my attention to the fact that his position in Korea vis a vis the Lianchurian regional government was very similar to mine in Hong Kong vis a vis the Cantonese
regional authorities. We were both concerned that peace
and order should be maintained along our frontiers and that
commerce with our next-door neighbour should be undisturbed.
We ought, therefore, to co-operate cordially, if possible, with the Chinese regional authorities respectively adjacent to us and give them what help we could to maintain law and order in their territory. I fully agree and I am certain
that for the present our aim in Southern China should be to
strengthen the administration of General Li Chai-sum in the Liang kuang provinces.
4./