CO129-501-5 Chinese situation- Recognition of Canton Government 22-7-1927 - 28-9-1927 — Page 26

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Wan-hsien affair. I do not know what the political affiliations of General Yang and his rivals may be; but I feel fairly safe in suggesting the view that they are each and all of them chiefly concerned to enrich and aggrandize themselves as far as possible.

vi.

The provinces of Kan-su. Shen-si and Honan appear now to be under the control of the so-called "Christian General", Marshal Feng

Yu-hsiang, who has become a bye-word for treachery and double-dealing even in China. He controls

what remains of the Kuo-min-chăn. He has certainly

been under Russian influence for a considerable

time and he may be relied upon to do whatever in his opinion is likely to bring himself riches and

power.

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may

vii. The province of Shan-si has, ever since

1916, been controlled by the so-called "Model Tuchun", General Yen Hsi-shan, who appears to be

animated by the praiseworthy ambition of maintain-

ing law and order in this province, of which he is

a native, and to be determined that, whoever m

rule elsewhere in China, he will be supreme in

Shan-si. He would no doubt like to keep himself free

from entangling alliances. But he may not be able

to succeed in this and his help is now being sought

for by other War Lords, whose ambitions are wider

than his own.

viii. The provinces of Hupeh, Hunan and

Kiangsi are for the moment under the control of the

Hankow clique of the Kuo-min-tang. This adminis-

tration is the most bolshevised in China and has

hitherto had a strong stiffening of red Russians

as advisers,