[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 180
CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[May 25.]
SECTION 1. 36697
[F 1945/81/10]
No. 1.
(No. 180.) My Lord.
Sir B. Alston to Earl Curzon.—(Received May-2542 JUL 21,
Peking, April 1, 1921. WITH reference to my despatch No. 37 of the 24th January have the honour to report on the political situation in this country since that date.
As regards Szechuan, the return of the province to its allegiance to the Peking Government was only temporary. Hsiung K'o-wu, who refused to accept the position of Civil Governor given to him by presidential mandate, has nominally retired from politics, while Liu Te un-hou, Peking's Military Governor, was compelled to abandon his post on the 22nd February. Liu Hsiang, who now styles himself commander-in-chief of the troops of Szechuan, adopts a policy of independence, recognising neither the Peking nor the Canton Governments.
A similar position prevails since the 8th February in Yunnan, on which day Tang Chi-yao abandoned the capital, subsequently leaving the province altogether. The reason for this sudden disappearance of a military leader whose position had every appearance of stability was discontent among his subordinates at the absence of funds with which to pay their troops once the latter had been driven out of the rich province of Szechuan, Tang's successor, General Ku Pin-chen, entered Yunnan-fu city on the 9th, and assumed office without serious disorder or bloodshed.
In Canton province no overt breach has so far taken place between Ch'en Ch'iung- ming and the followers of Sun Yat-sen. The latter desires to compel the adjoining province of Kuangsi to overturn its present authorities, who are responsible for its resuming allegiance to the Peking Government, and to constitute a federal republic with himself as president. Ch'en is strongly opposed to such a policy, and as a consequence bostilities between the two provinces have not taken place, while the bad blood between the two factions at Canton has grown steadily worse.
Though Sun Yat-sea has no control and little influence outside of Kuangtung, the idea of converting China into a federal republic has steadily gained ground during the past few months and among its present adherents are the provincial Administrations of Canton, Yunnan, Kueicbow, Szechuan and Human. The change is one which might conceivably form a solution for some of China's difficulties. Unfortunately it appears that the provincial militarists who advocate it do so because it seems to afford then the best means now in sight of holding on to their power. Under such circumstances there is little hope that its introduction would be attended by any immediate improve- ment in the internal condition of the country.
In Hupeh the question of the Civil Governorship has been settled by the surrender of the Central Government who have now appointed a persona grata to the Military Governor. Their original nominee was unable during his six months' tenure of the post to occupy his own office, preferring to remain for safety's sake in the neighbourhood of the foreign concessions on the opposite bank of the Yang-tsze.
Turning to North China, the difficulties ensuing upon the removal of the late Military Governor of Kansu, reported in my despatch No. 29 of the 12th January, remain unsolved, but so far hostilities have not broken out.
At the moment all eyes are turned to Manchuria, waiting for the next move by Chang Tso-lin, which, there is reason to fear, may precipitate hostilities between him and his rivals. The casus belli cannot be foretold, but there are strong reasons for the belief that Chang is determined to reinstate the Emperor Hsuan t'ung. Apart from information reaching the Legation from more than one reliable source the following circumstances give support to this view.
The surrender of Urga to the Mongols, on which I am reporting separately, and the subsequent evacuation by the Chinese of Outer Mongolia, have taken place without assistance being given to his own countrymen by Chang or his subordinates, who alone were in a position to offer it effectively and speedily. Not only so, but the case of Baron Ungern who, with his Russian and Buriat troops, gave valuable aid to the Mongols, and was for months at Hailar, a station on the Chinese Eastern Railway under
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