CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12] — Page 138

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Eventually we arrived at a working arrangement which I subsequently communicated to the Police. Asked

about taking more drastic measures, he said that what they would do in Peking or Mikden was quite impossible here owing to the liberal policy declared by Sun and to the personality of Sun himself. Unduly drastic measure, he thought, would operate adversely in any event owing to the immense pro-Southern feeling

in Shanghai.

Asked what were Sun's ultimate military intentions

in regard to defence, Ting said that in his opinion

Sun would undoubtedly fight it out to the last ditch.

All things considered, I think the indications

point to the eventual collapse of Sun and to the

replacement of his authority in this region either by

that of Chang Chang-chang from Shantung, or of the

Nationalist Army of Canton. If the former it means,

so far as ve are concerned, littbe more than the

substitution of one military administration by another

and rather less efficient one

But if the military element of the Nationalist Party should gain control in these parts, I believe that we have good reason to apprehend very considerable difficulties. I am told by one of the Cantonese already referred to, that even before he was forced to leave the Government a year ago, the Northern Expedition [ frequently discussed at meetings of the Executive Council,

Taa

of