- 4 ·
"/
Feng Yu-hsiang and Chiang Kai-shek is thought to be growing; Marshal Fêng's immediate object is, of
course, the province of Shantung with all that
possession of sea ports and railways implies to an
ambitious Military Commander; while Chiang Kai-shek
can hardly be expected to favour the establishment of
a powerful rival in such a dominant position. Meanwhile the return of Chang Tsung-chang to the arena. and the renewal of fighting on the coast; the presence of Japanese troops in Shantung between Feng Yu-hsiang and his objective; his desire to reach a settlement with Japan, coupled with the fear of the flood of propaganda which any concession to Japan would let
loose are all factors in the situation.
quite conceivably the Japanese occupation which, for the moment,stands between China and another Civil
War.
6.
It is
If it is true that a conflict between Fếng and Chiang is probable, or even possible, the latter can hardly afford to antagonize the Kwangsi group who may thus be enabled to consolidate their position in the South. Rumours have for some time been
circulating of a possible understanding among the
Southern provinces for mutual defence.
In this
connection it is interesting to observe that a representative of Chau-Sai-shing, Governor of Kweichow province, who had been staying for some time in Canton, has now left for Yunnanful Chau Sai-shing was for some time on bad terms with Lung Wan, the Lolo Governor of Yunnan, and when Lei San attacked
Kweichow province in the autumn of 1928, (see
paragraph 10 of Secret despatch of 30th November, 1928),