CO129-512-2 Political situation in China- and Canton 31-5-1929 - 13-11-1929 — Page 22

SECRET.

Copies to:-

Canton No.159.

Peking No. 56.

Singapore.

38

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

11th October, 1929..

20

nd

X2.23.

36

ma

af

Copy

My Lord,

In continuation of Sir Cecil Clementi's

secret despatch of the 28th of August, 1929, I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the

long foretold movement against Chiang Kai-shek has

at length taken definite form. It has not however at the time of writing developed into the expected

coalition against the Central Government of all discontented elements; on the contrary the prime

mover in the matter is an individual who has been

in the past regarded as one of Chiang's closest

adherents.

2. On the 25th of September Cheung Fat-fui

commander of the notorious Fourth Army suddenly

issued a manifesto denouncing Chiang Kai-shek and began to move troops from his base at Shasi down the Yangtsze towards Hankow. Forestalled by the advance of Nationalist troops from Nanking he then turned back towards Ichang and thence after an

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD PASSFIELD,

&C.,

&c.

&c.,

engagement