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8. Much intrigue is evidently going on, but the local aspects of it are merely reflections of the manoeuvres in progress at Nanking, and the future of the province is bound up with the success or failure of the Nationalist leaders in securing some sort of unity under a Central Government.
I have, &c.
Dear Brenan,
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
J. F. BRENAN.
Major-General Luard to Acting Consul-General Brenan.
Headquarters, South China Command,
Hong Kong, August 24, 1928. I AM enclosing a copy of a letter I have to-day sent to his Excellency, the Officer Administering the Government, Hong Kong.
As regards arms in Shameen, I understand that the Canton authorities are contemplating obtaining permission from the foreign consuls to make a search.
I should be interested to have any comments you may care to make on the situation generally, and whether you can contradict or corroborate the news contained in the attached letter.
I propose coming to Canton with Hanna to have a look at things and to have a talk with you on Monday next-leave here Sunday-night boat. I shall be busy with detachment early, but will come and see you about midday, if that will suit.
Yours sincerely,
C. C. LUARD.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Brenan to Major-General Luard.
Dear General,
Canton, August 28, 1928. I HAD the pleasure of discussing with you personally the matters mentioned in your letter of the 24th August, but I am sending this brief reply for purposes of record.
I have heard various rumours about intrigues against the present Canton administration, in which Chen Ming-shu and Chan Chak are mentioned as opponents of Li Chai-sum, and I have no doubt that Li Fuk-lam would like to get back to his old position in Honam. Such intrigues and rumours are inevitable, but I cannot say how serious they are in the present case. The local authorities, with whom I have discussed the situation, seem to feel fairly secure and to believe that Li Chai-sum is firmly established. On the other hand, we have had requests for permits to enter Shameen after dark from Canton police officers, who fear trouble and want a line of retreat in case of another Communist uprising.
I do not think that any quantity of arms can be stored on Shameen without our knowledge. It would be difficult to bring them in and still more difficult to take them out once the trouble had started. I mentioned the rumour to my French colleague. He was sceptical, but said he would investigate. At all events, the Cantonese authorities have said nothing about any such suspicions, and they would be quick enough to do so, if they had them.
If I were you, I think I should be cautious with Mr. Koo. I know nothing about him, but from what you tell me I suspect that he is trying to secure some job or concession for himself from the Chinese powers that be, and he would like to give them the impression that he is intimate with the British military authorities, and is in a position to obtain supplies of arms or other favours.
Wang Shao-hung sent an emissary to see me a few days ago to countersign an import permit for saltpetre, which the general wished to purchase in Hong Kong for a fire-cracker factory in which he was interested. The messenger told me that General Wang had gone to Liuchow.
Yours sincerely,
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Major-General Luard to the Governor of Hong Kong.
(Secret.) Your Excellency,
Headquarters, South China Command,
Hong Kong, August 24, 1928. I HAVE the honour to inform you of the gist of a conversation held yesterday between a member of my staff and Mr. Koo. The latter, you will remember, was recently largely instrumental in arranging a visit to Canton by one of my staff, who saw various military establishments and whose report you have seen.
2. Mr. Koo gave the impression of being very concerned about the stability of the existing régime in Canton. He stated that Li Chai-sum had been far too easy-going in the past, and that, in reality, the only troops upon which he could depend were those of the IVth Army under General Chan Chia-tong,
3. In the meantime, a definite anti-Kwangsi party were forming in Canton, whom he considered as pro-Chiang Kai-shek. The leaders of this party are General Chen Ming-shu, at present in Hainan, Admiral Chan Chak and Li Fuk-lam, the latter having recently returned to Hong Kong.
4. In some three weeks' time Mr. Koo expects the plot to ripen, in which case a rising will take place, and the rebellious leaders are not expected to hesitate from using and arming "Red' peasants. For this purpose, Mr. Koo stated that the Cantonese authorities were aware that Li Fuk-lam had been storing arms in the Shameen, and these are suspected to be in the French concession.
5. Mr. Koo was very anxious that an officer from Hong Kong should accompany him to Kwangsi to interview Wang Shao-hung, the military chief of that province, in order to advise him to come to the aid of Li Chai-sum. He pointed out that early this year a diplomatic rapprochement was effected between Hong Kong and Canton, and that it was a pity that the most should not be made of this, particularly as the Chiang Kai-shek party, represented in the South by Chen Ming-shu and Chan Chak, were not likely to be fastidious in making use of Russian help.
6. Mr. Koo intimated that it was possible that Wang Hao-hung might be visiting Canton in a few days' time.
I have, &c.
C. C. LUARD, Commanding, South China Command.
J. F. BRENAN.
X
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
Extract from the
CL
Kung Ping Po" of August 13, 1928.
THE PROPOSAL OF DEMARCATION OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN PO ON DISTRICT AND THE NEW TERRITORY SUBMITTED FOR RESOLUTION.
(Translation.)
THE Po On magistrate, named Chang Kai Tsung, is of opinion that as Po On District is closely connected, geographically speaking, with Hong Kong, it is not unusual to find serious disputes and unavoidable misunderstandings between the Chinese and British Governments, if and when the boundaries are not clearly demarcated. At the Rehabilitation Conference of the Western Region, a written proposal has been submitted by the said magistrate. seconded by other five magistrates, to the effect that an application should be sent in by the Rehabilitation Commissioner for the Western Region to the Kwangtung Provincial Government requesting them to appoint a special deputy to Po On District inviting the Hong Kong Government for negotiating the demarcation in question.
Reasons supporting the Proposal.
In accordance with the Assembly Meeting Procedures, if a proposal is moved by one of the members present and seconded by five other members, the proposal may be submitted as a provisional motion, we beg to state that the original name of the present Po On District was called the San On District.
It was after the opium war, when the Island of Hong Kong was occupied vi et armis with no strong reasons by the British Government, as a concession for a period of ninety-nine years. This was the greatest disgrace, which could never be forgotten
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