CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927 — Page 62

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made, I then issued an order of mobilization. All at once

Borodin dashed down from Peking, and hearing what was going

on, came to see me that very night, and opposed the scheme

tooth and nail, T. V. Soong acting as his interpreter. The

argument began at 9 p.m. and continued for several hours.

Borodin could not see his way to fall in with my plans. He

said that a revolutionary should aim at complete success and

should not run a risk of this kind. In reply I said, "If

a revolutionary is to run no risk what becomes of his

revolution?" "Since you are not perfectly sure of your

success, * asserted he, "it is a mistake to run any risk."

"Though the East River has been conquered," he continued, "yet our enemies are not entirely destroyed. Why not wait

a few months, until you are sure of success? The time is

not yet ripe, and you have made a serious mistake in attempt

ing to overthrow them instead of keeping them your friends

for the time being." "This is where you are mistaken."

I answered. "We have not only surveyed ourselves, but have

also had a careful study of our opponents. It is not that

we want to get rid of Yeung and Lau so much as that they

have themselves set foot on that road which leads inevitably

to their elimination. Therefore for the sake of the con-

stitution of the Party and of the Revolution for the eman-

cipation of the proletariat, we are driven to take this step. We have given our orders and there is no room for further argument.* "You can countermand your orders," said

"Countermand them?" I replied, "The Government will not eat its words; and besides how will you settle the

matter with our soldiers?" He was going on with his argu- ments when I cut him short "I can get up at 3 in the morning

when necessary, but it is 2 a.m. and I must go to bed now.

Please come back to-morrow." He then left in a huff. On

the next morning he interviewed me again, and said, "I find

you

he.