CO129-499-4 Canton situation- governor's despatches 18-3-1927 - 22-4-1927 — Page 76

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the front are enduring hardships and difficulties and

hunger and cold, those at the rear have done nothing but spread rumours and have further required us to

submit within three days a detailed report of our military expenses. All of you are well aware that it is not an easy task to make a statement of military accounts. It is indeed absolutely impossible for us to make any proper statement of military expenses tuntil we come to a halt on the accomplishment of any particular campaign, when we can collect the accounts from the various armies and have them audited. All our officers

and units are at present fighting desperately at the

front, and those at the rear do not seem to realise their hardships. Their demand for a statement of accounts within 3 days must either mean that they know nothing of military affairs or that they deliberately intend to create friction. All the trouble they have caused to us is directed towards vilifying my own qualifications

as leader. Indeed it is not hard to find a pretext to bring a charge against anybody. They now wish to put obstacles in the way of the leader of the Revolution and do their utmost to damage the Revolutionary cause to the greatest possible extent. Now let me tell you frankly that as long as our National Revolution remains unaccomplished, China will never enjoy equality and freedom; nor will I lay down my responsibility for pro- moting the Revolution, and even if I am entirely isolated I shall still continue the work. I am prepared tobe another Ngok Fei, Sz Ho Fat, or Man Tin Tseung.

I an

devoting myself entirely to the promotion of the intere sts

of our contry and the people, and my sole desire is

to figure in history as an honourable man.

I do not

hope