CO129-500-1 Canton situation- governor's despatches 18-5-1927 - 9-6-1927 — Page 85

No SECRET.

Copies to:

Canton No. 211

Peking No. 52.

Sir,

30001

RECE

127 JUN 1927

COL.O

Tz

84

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 26th May, 1927.

1

No 8

In my secret despatch of the 19th May

I reported a curious interview between a Mr. Lai

Lien of the "Base Political Department of the

Canton Government and certain British journalists.

The entirely unofficial position which Mr. Lai was

so careful to emphasize in that occasion has never- theless not prevented him from delivering to some members of the Hong Kong branch of the Kuomintang

an authoritative speech on the significance of the

Gazette of the 21st May in which this speech is

Enclo. No. 1 "party purgation". I enclose a copy of the Canton

reported and invite your attention to its inept incoherence. Admittedly the speaker has a difficult theme. Russia and world-revolution have proved an

even more dangerous foe than England and imperialism. But it will not do to admit any good in the latter, though being the antithesis of the former its ideals and those of the party-purgers must necessarily coincide to a considerable extent. The speaker is, therefore, bound to give the slogan-fed public a vituperative sop, even if it involves an insult to

the

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY. M.P.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.