CO129-499-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 12-2-1927 - 10-3-1927 — Page 10

Enclosure No.2.

10

Mr King,

Sir,

I proceeded to Canton on 19th February, 1927, as

instructed and report as follows:-

1. Since the capture of Hankow and the transfer of the

Nationalist Government to the North, all the Russian Soviet

advisers have proceeded to WU-CHANG and Hankow.

2. There are only 25 Russians in Tung Shan now.

3. Nd Soviet troops have arrived at Canton for many months. 4. There are three Soviet Officers at Jhampoa Military Academy.

There are not so many cadets there as before. There is

accommodation for 500 but at present there are only 250.

5. Nearly every day coalies and labourers are collected and

sent in batches, by railway to the front. Soldiers returning

from the front are in very poor condition and are dressed in rags

6. Owing to the non arrival of essestial components the new

wireless installation at the North Parade Ground is only able

to receive messages and is not able to transmit.

7. There is a lot of labour agitations in favour of a general

seamen's strike and demonstrations and parades in favour thereof

are held daily, but everything is orderly under the firm

guidance of LI CHAI SHUM the Provincial Governor.

8. The opinion of the labour party as expressed in posters etc.

is "Before a general strike could be made effective Hong Kong

should be captured, Shameen is to small to start with. When Hong Kong falls all foreigners will leave Canton with their sampans (gunboats)."

9. Demonstrations and parades have increased since the Shanghai

strike started and processions daily march and sing the

Marseillaise. They carry banners and paper gunboats bearing

the British flag. Many children under 8 join the parties.

10. Mr Jaksoff the old Russian Consul left Canton about 10 months

ago and his place has been taken by two members of the Soviet.

Names