39
end, when (if ever) the effective co-operation of the
Chinese authorities has been secured.
If
I am afraid that, as I write, the political outlook
in China is very gloomy. Civil war has broken out again in
Shantung and will, I fear, spread very soon to the Yangtse. It
is also hard to believe that Japan will refrain very much
longer from drastic action against the Nanking Government.
she makes a demonstration at Nanking, the Nationalist
Government will immediately disappear, and we shall again have
chaos in China. My only hope then would be that my little
friend, Li Chai-sum, may remain in the Liang Kuang provinces.
and keep South China out of the civil war. If he does this, we might not fare too badly in Hong Kong after all; but, if
Kwangtung is again drawn into civil war, all the pirates,
briganda and Communists will very quickly emerge from their
lurking places, and we shall again be in a sea of trouble.
Yours very sincerely
3d. C.Clementi.
P.3. The Secretariat has not been able to copy my despatch
about opium in time to catch today's mail. It will follow by
next mail.
The Right Honourable Lieut. Colonel L. Ch. S. Amery, M.P.,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.