CO129-500-2 Canton situation- governor's despatches 30-6-1927 - 8-11-1927 — Page 82

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then said that when he returned to Canton a few months ago

on the invitation of General Li, he thought that the best

thing for Canton to do would be to declare the Monroe Doc-

trine for Kwongtung and Kwongsi, or even for Kwongtung alone.

However, after having studied conditions very carefully, he

came to the conclusion - and many close friends of General

Li agreed with him that for the present it would not be possible to embark upon such a scheme, as militarily Kwong- tung was not strong enough to stand independent of the Nan-

king Government. To declare the Monroe Doctrine would mean

a revolt against Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, and the Marshal

has at present two trusted men in Kwongtung General Chien Ta-chun and General Wu Him commanding between them about

30,000 men. Another reason against the scheme was that even if Marshal Chiang Kai-shek were too busy to attack Kwongtung, the Wuhan Government, taking advantage of the split, would undoubtedly do so, and they might succeed if Tang Sang-chi

would lend his weight to the attacking army. It would there- fore be to the best interests of Kwongtung to side with Chiang at present in order to eliminate a common foe who is still

At very powerful and may yet do great harm to the country. present it seemed that the Wuhan Government would direct their attention first to the Nanking Government, and if they succeed- ed in eliminating them, they would undoubtedly turn their attention to Kwongtung at once. In that event, Kwongtung would not be strong enough to resist them. If, however, the Wuhan menace were effectively removed, Kwongtung could settle down and put its house in order, and when it got strong enough, it could consider the question of making itself independent of outside influences. The idea is that Kwongtung, after these years of continued strife, must have a rest. It should settle down to a period of peace and quiet, and should try to improve its administration and to develop its natural resources.

Kwongtung