[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
46
Decypher.
CHINA
Acting British Congul-General, (Canton via
Hongkong) 17th April, 1927.
D.
9.25 p.m. 17th April, 1927.
No. 27.
R. 4.00 p.m. 17th April, 1927.
Addressed to Peking telegram No. 40.
Foreign Office telegram No. 288 to you has reached
me in corrupt state but my views are as follows.
Excesses on the Yangtze were the work of Communists
instigating Labour Unions and (at Nanking) troops from
Hunan, a province long noted for its turbulent and
anti-foleign feeling and now a hotbed of Communism.
Punitive action should therefore be taken against them
and against Hankow faction which is supporting them. But if this is not possible for group omitted)s it
is no practical reasonable (sic) use attacking Chiang
who has just given most emphatic proof possible of his determination to suppress Communists and pro- tect foreigners. See my immediately preceding tele-
grams. Action taken against Reds in Canton is even
more complete than at first reported and all officials
with a suspicion of Hankow sympathies are being re-
moved.
This is not done out of regard for foreigners
but is an endeavour to return to original Kuo Min Tang
programme and natural revulsion against Russian inter- ference and we must not yet expect any manifestation of friendship towards ourselves. Nevertheless it is in
the direction we desire and we should show appreciation. Therefore I think the present time is not suitable for
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