CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 520

516

Recognition as the national Government of

China would go a long way towards conciliating the Cantonese, Seeing that this is the great object of their campaign. It would probably keep the Powers united as the Japanese and Americans appear already to have made overtures to the Cantonese leaders with a view to laying the foundations for such recognition; and the quid pro quo would naturally be the recognition

Acgotiation

of fresh Treaties and the regularisation, on the basis of the preservation of the customs, of the concessions now being extorted from us at will. We cannot yet regard the Cantonese as having established their claim to be the Government of China, but the defeat of the northern leaders now in arms against them would greatly strengthen their case. Recognition at the earliest possible moment consistent with cur obligations seems the policy on which to concentrate and if it be the case that we cannot take any immediate steps in this direction can we not achieve something by promises of recognition if, and when, the Cantonese establish their claim?

Proceeding on this basis the natural line to

pursue would be to explain to the Cantonese the

difficulties in the way of national recognition for which they have now asked, to make it clear that we are

quite willing to grant it as soon as they have established their claim by disposing of northern opposition, and, in the meantime, to endeavour to come to some arrangement as to a modus vivendi.

This is the

question

7