CO129-512-1 Political situation in China- and Canton 30-11-1928 - 23-5-1929 — Page 82

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13.

The fighting which is inevitable between

Chiang Kai-shek and the Kwongsi-ites would be most

unfortunate for the country. Let me now tell you a

bit of inside history. Towards the end of last

year Chiang Kai-shek came to a secret agreement with

Feng Yu-hsiang for an alliance against the Kwongsi-

ites, as Chiang was bitter against Peu Chung-hsi.

Mrs. Li Chung-jen, who is a great personal friend

of Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, heard of this arrangement,

and the Kwongsi-ites immediately set to work with

the help of Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek to counteract

Feng Yu-hsiang's influence, with the result that

Chiang dropped the scheme, leaving Feng isolated.

Yen Shi-shan, who is not a friend of Feng's, heard

of this also, and exerted his influence with Chiang

against Feng Yu-hsiang, which made Chiang less anxious to ally with Feng whom in reality he suspects

and fears. When Feng Yu-hsiang found himself

forsaken by Chiang, he left Nanking on the plea of

ill-health, and gave out that he was going abroad to

recuperate.

14.

A

In the meantime the Kwongsi-ites realised

how perilous their position had been, and set to

work to improve it. They found that they would

not be safe exen in Hunan as long as Lu Ti-ping a

nominee of Nanking was at the head of the government

of the province. They therefore had him removed

by what they conceived to be constitutional method,

so that they would not have an enemy in their own

home, as it were, should there be fighting between

them and Chiang Kai-shek. This move came as a

surprise