CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 157

This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be

returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]

Decode,

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CHINA

POLITICAL.

Sir J. Macleay (Peking).

5th April, 1923.

3.30 p.m. 5th April, 1923.

No. 52.

R.

8.30 a.m. 6th April, 1923.

(R).

155

Monthly intelligence telegram.

Cabinet crisis referred to in my telegram No. 37

terminated by President and Premier yielding to pres-

sure of Wu Pei-fu and northern militarists and appoint-

ing Shen Hung-ying leader of invading Kuang-si troops

at Canton to the governorship of Kwangtung in opposi-

tion to Sun Yat-sen, Another nominee of Wu Pel-fu has

been appointed governor of Fukiem and other minor

appointments have been made in the south in his inter-

These mandates are regarded as declarations of war by central goverment (acting under orders of

Wu Pei-fu) against Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang

ests.

and resumption of hostilities in the south is expected

if Kuang-si leader accepts his Peking appointment.

Sun Yat-sen's return to Canton has resulted in drawing together of Tsaokun and Wu Pei-fu parties under the latter's leadership against a possible com- bination of Sun Yat-sen with Mukden and Anfu factions.

General situation much resembles that existing last Bpring before outbreak of civil war and prospects of peaceful unification are more than ever remote.

Hostilities