[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
86
From CHINA.
Decypher. Mr. Brenan (Canton via Hongkong).
6th May, 1927.
D.
11. 10 p.m.
6th May,
1927.
R.
7.00 p.m.
6th May, 1927.
No. 32.
IMMEDIATE.
Colonial Office telegram to Hongkong of May 3rd.
Although General Li Chai-sum is at present the
outstanding person in Canton he is by no means an all
powerful dictator. He is still nominally the sub-
ordinate of Chieng and cannot ignore Kuomintang.
fear therefore it is useless to expect from him the
declaration suggested by dovernor of Hongkong.
I
I do not suggest we should supply him with arms
or encourage British firms to enter into credit transac-
tions but only that he be given facilities to buy for
cash at reasonable rates in rongkong or through Kongkong
agents. I quite agree that we should regard Chiang's
faction with caution. They are not friendly to us and
we may yet have to deal drastically with them but in
the meantime they are undoubtedly fighting our battle
by attacking Communists and Soviet agents. They have
just searched Soviet Consul's mails in Canton and found
incriminating documents. If they are forced to com-
promise with Communists because we prevent them from
getting arms we may look for renewal of anti-British
boycott in this province whereas trade prospects are now
improving.
General Li Chai-sum is attempting to obtain a con-
signment of arms, ammunition and explosives through a
German
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