-7.
81
13.
The fighting which is inevitable between
Chiang Kai-shek and the Kwongsi-ites would be most
unfortunate for the country. Let me now tell you a
bit of inside history. Towards the end of last
year Chiang Kai-shek came to a secret agreement with
Feng Yu-hsiang for an alliance against the Kwongsi-
ites, as Chiang was bitter against Peu Chung-hsi.
Mrs. Li Chung-jen, who is a great personal friend
of Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, heard of this arrangement,
and the Kwongsi-ites immediately set to work with
the help of Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek to counteract
Feng Yu-hsiang's influence, with the result that
Chiang dropped the scheme, leaving Feng isolated.
Yen Shi-shan, who is not a friend of Feng's, heard
of this also, and exerted his influence with Chiang
against Feng Yu-hsiang, which made Chiang less anxious to ally with Feng whom in reality he suspects
and fears. When Feng Yu-hsiang found himself
forsaken by Chiang, he left Nanking on the plea of
ill-health, and gave out that he was going abroad to
recuperate.
14.
A
In the meantime the Kwongsi-ites realised
how perilous their position had been, and set to
work to improve it. They found that they would
not be safe exen in Hunan as long as Lu Ti-ping a
nominee of Nanking was at the head of the government
of the province. They therefore had him removed
by what they conceived to be constitutional method,
so that they would not have an enemy in their own
home, as it were, should there be fighting between
them and Chiang Kai-shek. This move came as a
surprise