CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 74

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friend into Northern camp. But it was evident from

the way Ting spoke that he regarded Sun's position as

the most precarious,

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I saw Sum at Hengking yesterday and it was evident

from the nature of the reception that he was particular ly glad to see me. I expressed usual friendly senti-

ments towards China and thanked him for his co-operation

in dealing with various questions affecting Shanghai. Marshal, whilst very friendly, was naturally reserved in his opinion. He said Ting had informed him of his

conversation with me and he wished to endorse views

Ting had expressed. He said his personal view wes

that internal struggle might continue for years until

it produced a great leader with sufficient personality

to unite China, but of this leader there was at present

no sign. He was however quite convinced that whatever

the immediate result of the civil war might be Chinese

people would themselves throw off Bolshevism which was

quite alien to their nature. He would not admit,

possibly owing to presence of others, that there was

a moderate element in Canton party who might be in-

duced to listen to reason, when he concluded he begged

whatever success Canton might have even if they should

reach Peking we should not recognise them as government

of China.

At present I do not profess to seeing clearly how

we are to deal with independent leaders such as Sun if

anything comes of our contemplated conversation with

Scuth.

I imagine that anything in the sense of treaty

revision would apply to all thins without distinction

but propose to reserve that for future consideration.

Addressed to Shanghai for repetition to Peking,

Tokyo, Hong Kong Canton and Nangking.

Mr. Lempson ( gr. undec.).

P.0.