CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 402

This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.

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400

CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[F 3358/711/10]

C O

13063

RECO NRed.17 M. 21

[December 23.]

SECTION 1.

Mr. Clive to Earl Curzon,-(Received December 23.)

(No. 692.) My Lord,'

Peking, October 11, 1920. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a summary of the intelligence reports of His Majesty's consular officers in China for the quarter ended the 30th June last, which has been compiled by Mr. R. Dunbar, third secretary to His Majesty's Legation. With reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 292 of the 11th June last, I have the honour to state that reports from His Majesty's consular officers at Harbin and Shanghai will be included in the summary for the quarter ending the 31st December next, and that in accordance with your Lordship's instructions an additional report on important matters concerning the provinces of Kansu, Shensi and Honan will in fature be forwarded.

(Copies to Tokyo, India, Hong Kong and Admiral.)

I have, &c.

R. H. CLIVE.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Intelligence Reports of His Majesty's Consular Officers in China for Quarter ended June 30, 1920.

Introduction.

DURING the past quarter interest has centred mainly in the struggle between the forces of Tuchun Hsiung Kowu of Szechuan and those of Tang Chi-yao, Tuchun of Yunnau and leader of the south-west confederation. Hsiung's position at the end of June was such that, failing assistance from an unexpected quarter, his overthrow appeared inevitable, stoutly as he has fought against superior opponents.

In the North about the beginning of July, following on the loss of Hunan to the South though the unauthorised withdrawal of General Wu Pei-tu and the flight of Tuchna Chang Ching-yao, the political struggle between the Chihli and Anfu Parties reached its climax. The crash came with the sudden dismissal of Hsu Shu-ch'eng (Little Hsü), and the civil war which followed has ended in the utter defeat of Tuan Chi-jui and his Anfu clique.

Tuan has fallen only to be replaced, it would seem, by General Chang Tso-lin, who with his large well-disciplined army in Manchuria is in a position to control the activities of the Chihli Party, and on whose attitude in the near future may depend the fate of the Central Government. There are, indeed, already indications that Peking has merely exchanged one master for another and more powerful one.

Canton.

The general situation has remained unaltered: Wu Ting-fang and his fellow dissentient directors have shown no intention of leaving Shanghai-the split between them and the Kuungsi Party is therefore complete.

Negotiations are reported to be in progress between the Antu Club and the Yunnanese Party, on the one hand, and the Chilli and Kuangsi Parties, on the other; the latter would appear to have agreed upon the following terms as a basis for

peace :- 1. Hsü Shih-Ch'ang to be recognised as President; Lu Yung-t'ing to be his

successor.

2. Chin Yün-Peng to be Premier, and the Kuo Min Tang to have four seats in the

Cabinet, the Anfu members being dismissed.

[5031 z-

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