88 ·
سيليسا
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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only be "mediators" in the proposed negotiations for a settle- ment, and who harped upon the theme of compensation to the strikers, although he must by this time know quite well that a settlement cannot be reached on these lines. His claim that ther was a second strike in this Colony at the time of the Chinese New Year is also hypocritical nonsense, as he well knows. It is un- fortunate that Mr. Wong Tseng-wai, who (I am inclined to believe) takes a more reasonable view, and who is still the titular Chairman of the Canton Council of Government, should have been too unwell-whether diplomatically or physically-to see Mr. Kemp, and also that General Cheung Kai-shek is so inaccessible. The fact seems to be that the Canton Government has not yet recovered from the political shock administered to it last month and that its members are at sixes and sevens. Moreover, all of them are, no doubt, anxiously watching the course of events in northern China.
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3. H.M. Consul-General at Hankow telegraphed to me the 9th April that Marshal Wu Pei-fu had been urged to advance on Peking as the Kuo-min-tang would surrender to him, but Accordingly Marshal Wu had not to Marshal Chang Tso-lin. intended to leave Hankow for Peking on the 15th April, but he is still uncertain about the Hunan situation and has cancelled his departure for the present. He is confident that he can hold any attack from the south; but he thinks that, so long as he remains at Hankow, an attack may not develop. He is more easy about
Oleg's arms and ammunition as he is getting some of the s.s." cargo and some from Peking. As soon as he is established in Peking he means to attack Canton from Hankow, the advance being made through the province of Kiang-si under General Lin Hu, who is to be Governor of Canton. In addition to this I learn by telegram from Sir R. Macleay that early on the morning of the 10th April the city gates of Peking were closed and that Marshal Wu Pei-fu was invited to take charge of the situation there in co-operation with the Kuo-min-chün.
4. In these circumstances it seems to me inexpedient to make any attempt at present to hasten the negotiations between Hong- kong and Canton, which are adjourned sirie die, in order that the communication made by Mr. Kemp to Mr. C. C. Wu may be studied by the Canton Government. It will also be well to allow Mr. J. F. Brenan, who proceeded to Canton on the 10th April for the purpose of taking over charge as Consul-General from Sir James Jamieson, to make the acquaintance of the principal mem- bers of the Canton Soviet before further negotiations are attempted from Hongkong. Sir James kept entirely aloof from all intercourse with the Cantonese officials; but I much hope that personal contact between Mr. Brenan and these officials may facilitate a settlement. I attach copy of a letter which Mr. Kemp wrote to Mr. C. C. Wu after his return from Canton, and I pro- pose to take no further step for a few days.
I have, &c.,
C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, &c.
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ENCLOSURE 1 IN No. 17.
Memorandum of certain informal conversations at Canton between C. C. Wu and J. H. Kemp on the 8th and 9th April, 1926,
Secret.
I arrived at Canton at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, the 7th April, 1926, and was met by Mr. Fitzmaurice, Vice-Consul. I went at once to call on the Consul-General. Sir James Jamieson. He had no fresh news. He expressed the opinion that it would be im- possible to see General Sheung Kai-shek. On receiving His Excellency's telegram on Tuesday, the 6th April, he had sent a message into the city asking Mr. C. C. Wu for an appointment.
A reply was received from Mr. C. C. Wu on Thursday morn ing. the 8th April, fixing 3.30 p.m. for the appointment.
I called to see Mr. C. C. Wu as arranged at 3.30 p.m. on Thurs- day, the 8th April. Mr. Fitzmaurice was present during the inter- view, and through that of the following day. Mr. Luk King-fo. who, I understand, is now acting Foreign Minister in the Nationalist Government, was also present during both interviews. After a little preliminary conversation, Mr. C. C. Wu suggested that we should begin by going through the strikers' terms, which he said, are not our terms." I said that none of those terms could be made a condition of the settlement of the boycott, but that I was quite prepared to discuss them with him personally.
He then left the subject of the strikers' terms and took up a cutting and read Mr. Amery's statement made in the House of Commons on the 22nd March, 1926. He said that the Canton Government did not want to do anything which would fasten on them responsibility for the strike, that the strike was not their affair, and they could only act as mediators. I said that, as I understood the position, each Government had appointed three delegates and that these six delegates were to discuss all out- standing questions and to arrive at a final decision, and there was to be no other discussion of any kind except the informal conver- sations preceding the formal conference. He agreed but said that the Canton delegates could act only as mediators. I said that mediation implied three parties and that it was impossible for us to accept that position. He then suggested that the Canton delegates might be regarded as attorneys. I pointed out that attorneys are subject to the orders of their principals and that I could not believe that the Canton Government were subject to the orders of the Strike Committee. He said that they must find some other word. I said that we must negotiate with the Canton Government as the Government of the country or territory from which the boycott is being maintained. He suggested that the phrase might be "the Government of the place where the strikers are located." I said that most of the strikers were now located in Hongkong, as the strike had failed and was practically ended so far as Hongkong was concerned. I repeated my phrase and he said, "You emphasise the boycott." said that I did and that the strike no longer interested us. After some talk about