-7.
contrary lesson is taught by recent history.
In the Boxer Year, 1900, the authorities of
the Kuang-tung, Kuang-si, An-hui, Che-kiang,
Kiang-su, Hunan, Hupeh and Shantung provinces deliberately disobeyed an imperial edict from Peking ordering the extermination of foreigners.
Thus middle and South China stood aloof from the
war in the north. Under present circumstances
the Northern militarists, who are actually at
war with the South, would probably welcome tacitly (if not openly) a blockade by us of
their enemies. They have themselves often
threatened such a blockade. It is significant
also that, as recently as last month, the Nanking
Government should have welcomed any sanctions the Powers might decide to apply at Hankow. It is
unlikely, therefore, that blockade or other
coercive measures taken by us against the South would unite the North and South against us. Patriotism as understood in Europe does not yet
exist in China, and the lack of cohesion between
the North and the South is amply illustrated in China history
(5) "Assuming a state of war
Mukden railway".
Thore is at present no question of blockading
China as a whole and we do not doubt that a
regional blockado, such as that of Canton, can
be