COPY
CONFIDENTIAL.
ENCLOSURE.
CONVERSATION WITH MR. LIANG SHIH-YI
37
The following is the substance of remarks made by Mr. Liang Shih-yi in conversation with His Excellency the Governor at Government House on the 16th August, 1927.
Sir Shouson Chow and Dr. R. H. Kotewall were also present.
Present Political Situation.
1. The present political situation in China is complex
and confused. Chiang Kai-shek's resignation is fraught
with uncertainties and difficulties. That it will have a
favourable reaction on the present situation is a matter of
doubt.
Chiang Kai-shek's Resignation.
2. Chiang Kai-shek's resignation was due to several
causes.
Even as commander-in-chief his power was not absolute. He had to work closely with others such as Hu Han-min, Koo Ying-fan and Tsai Yuen-pei in Nanking, and these men occasion- ally issued important orders to him as a Committee. Chiang did not see why he should be undergoing physical and mental hardships, and even risking his life, while these colleagues of his were issuing all sorts of orders to him from places of safety. That is why he sometimes acted without having first reported to the Nanking Government; and because of this
mutual suspicion arose.
3. When Chiang started on his Northern Expedition, he had under his command seven armies totalling about 130,000 strong. All these men are now practically gone, in so far as he him- self is concerned. A large number of them have been killed, while the rest have been absorbed by his subordinate generals.
His
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