(7+)
44
the same sense during a private trip which he made in Kwangsi
last May. I surmise therefore that the Marshal was acting
independently on his own initiative in order to equip his own
province. But I have no reason at all to suppose that he could
not have obtained Central Government support. His
representative's secretary first approached this office on 7th
September. The idea then was to see the Hong Kong Government
on "a very important question". My advice was to see me in
the first instance, and the outcome was my telegram No.77 to
Peking referred to above.
I have etc.,
(signed) A. P. Blunt
Consul-General