No SECRET.
Copy to:-
Canton No. 61.
Peking No. 38.
Singapore.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
6th June, 1930.
25
Con
9
My Lord,
In continuation of Mr. Southorn's secret
despatch of the 8th of May, 1930, I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the long awaited clash
has at last occurred and that heavy fighting is in
progress in the North. Chiang Kai-shek has had ample opportunity to equip himself beyond the
ordinary scale of the Chinese militarist and it
appears that he has not neglected his opportunity.
He has for some time past been building up a machine
for his personal use, and it is believed in some
quarters that he hopes thereby to establish himself
as Dictator.
But even should he be successful in
the present campaign it is very doubtful whether he
will be able to dominate the North.
The Anti-Government combination seems to be
working with some measure of amicable co-operation,
and as the latest reports bring news of Kuominchun
successes, it would be idle to speculate on the
outcome of events.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LORD PASSFIELD,
&c.,
&c.
&C.,
2.