CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8] — Page 151

6.

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Kuang-tung? The present arma embargo policy, if rigidly maintained by nations other than Russia, can only promote the rapid spread of Bolshevism in China, since it denies help to those who oppose Bolshevism. For instance, I do not believe that General Cheung Kai-shek is a communist or that he is really pro-Russian. But, as only the Russians will give him the kind of help he needs, and as the Russians will only give him that help if he pays lip service to Communism, he has been obliged to maintain an anti-British policy in Kuang-tung, where he is now to all intents and purposes dictator.

If the negotiations now being initiated for the purpose of ending the boycott prove successful, it should, I submit, be one of the objects of British policy in China to maintain very friendly relations with whatever Government

exercises de facto control in the Kuang-tung province. Our

aim should be to show the Cantonese that we can be more use-

ful and better friends than the Russians. It is, of course,

very much to the advantage of Hong Kong and of British trade in the West River Valley that law and order should be main-

tained in Kuang-tung and that piracy and brigandage should

be suppressed. We should, therefore, I suggest, assist the

Canton Government in these matters. We should also be ready

to supply them with advisors to replace such men as Jacob

Borodin, Remi and Gallent. Furthermore, if the Canton

Government needs arms and munitions of war, we should, I

submit be willing to permit purchase from British firma.

7.

In a secret despatch of yesterday's date, I have

ventured to suggest that His Majesty's Government should,

in concert with the Governments of the United States, Japan

and France, review the situation in China in order to

formulate a policy better adapted to present circumstances

than our existing policy which is based on the fiction that

there