a
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government."
CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[October 30.]
SECTION 2.
53
[F 3344/84/10]
No. 1.
Sir B. Alston to the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston.-(Received October 30.) (No. 579.) My Lord,
Peking, September 11, 1922. IN my despatch No. 515 of the 10th ultimo, reporting on the general political situation in China, I referred to Sun Yat-sen's long-delayed flight from Canton, the news of which had just been received by telegram, and I have now the honour to transmit herewith copies of despatches (see Enclosures 1 and 2) from His Majesty's consuls-general at Canton and Shanghai, reporting on Dr. Sun's departure from the capital of Kwangtung on board a British warship on the 9th August, and his arrival at Shanghai on the 14th August.
With regard to the point raised in Mr. Garstin's despatch as to the possibility of Dr. Sun being refused the hospitality of the international settlement and French concession at Shanghai, as was done in the case of Hsu Shu-cheng in 1921 (see my despatch No. 147 of the 3rd March), it may be pointed out that Sun Yat-sen, far from being a proscribed outlaw, remains, outwardly at any rate, an honoured citizen of the republic, and is being urged by President Li to come to Peking and take part in the reorganisation of the country as a member of the present Central Government. It is therefore apparent that it would be difficult to justify his expulsion from Shanghai as an undesirable political agitator and refugee by the foreign municipal authorities.
Since his arrival in Shanghai Dr. Sun has issued two statements, defining his position and expressing his views on the political situation, the one addressed to his countrymen and the other to the foreign Powers and foreign public. Copies of these manifestos are enclosed in the attached despatch from the acting British consul-general at Shanghai (Enclosure 3*); the second of these two documents has also been received by me direct, signed by Sun Yat-sen, in a formal covering letter from Mr. Eugene Chen, the very able foreign-trained journalist and former editor of the "Peking Gazette," who is now a prominent member of Dr. Sun's staff In these statements Sun Yat-sen explains his reasons for leaving Canton, makes a violent attack on General Ch'en Chiung-ming, affirms his willingness to abide by Parliament's decision as to his own constitutional status, and opposes the proposals (made by Ch'en Chiung-ming) for a federated republic of autonomous provinces,
It appears as though Sun Yat-sen, in spite of his complete overthrow at Canton, is far from eliminated as a political factor in this country, and since his arrival in Shanghai various rumours in regard to the trend of his further political activities have been rife. One of these reports, which is current in the north, refers to an alleged plan for his election as President by the present Parliament with the connivance of Chang Tso-lin and Tsao Kun (the latter receiving the Vice-Presidency in return for his support), a scheme which would presumably entail an open breach between Tsao and Wu Pei-fu and a further recourse to arms in North China.
The general political situation since the date of my despatch No. 515 above referred to will be dealt with as usual in a separate despatch.
(Copy to Tokyo, Hong Kong, India and admiral.)
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I have, &c.
B. ALSTON.
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