CO129-512-1 Political situation in China- and Canton 30-11-1928 - 23-5-1929 — Page 98

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submitted a report of the matter to the Nanking

Government, which showed that he acknowledged

He had acted purely

the authority of Nanking.

from considerations of expediency.

Li Tsung-jen,

therefore, should not be harshly judged.

Marshal Li added that, when he went to Nanking,

he would be able to clear matters up.

He did

not expect that there would be any resort to arms.

Many of the rumours so prevalent of late were

spread by disappointed politicians. The

reported movements of troops were not for warlike

purposes at all, but for the suppression of

bandits in the country and for garrisoning the

different centres.

5.

Marshal Li further said to me that, if

the administrative powers of the Central

Government and those of the Branch Political

Councils were not clearly defined, there would be

many occasions for dispute. As a delegate to

the Third National Conference of the Kuomintang,

he intended to bring this question up for debate,

and the delegates from the other provinces would

probably do likewise. With regard to the

control of the Kuangtung railways, all of which

at present are entirely within the province and

make no connection with railways in other

provinces, Marshal Li said that he would discuss

this matter also with the Central Government at

Nanking, and he was hopeful of a satisfactory

arrangement being reached.

It was his view that

Kuangtung railways should be controlled by the

Kuangtung