2
12
Enclo. No. 1.
2.
To a reporter Marshal Li stated that he proposed to stay no longer than two months in Canton and that his acceptance of Office in Manking would necessitate his resignation of the post of
Chairman of the Provincial Council. He had
recommended as his successor General Chan Ming-Shu
who had not yet however reached a decision on the
point. His object in visiting Canton was primarily to discuss the disbandment of surplus troops which
would be carried out with due regard to the
suppression of piracy. In reply to a question he said that while he personally was opposed to
legalised onium smoking the problem could only be
dealt with in conjunction with the neighbouring
provinces of Yunnan, Kweichow and Kuangsi all of
which derive a considerable revenue from that
source.
3. No events of political importance have
occurred in Kuangtung during the past month, and any readjustments have been held over pending
Marshal Li's arrival. A review by General Wong
Shiu-hung of the situation in Kuansi which appeared in the local press is of considerable interest and I enclose a complete translation. The admission
that in the province of Kuangsi, in spite of its proximity to the cradle of the revolution and its estimated population of twelve millions, no more than 6,000 persons are members of the Kuomintang is more startling even than the estimate of 1,000 members quoted for the city of Peking; and when the
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