CO129-520-1 Chinese situations 20-12-1929 - 27-1-1931 — Page 25

No SECRET.

Copy to:-

Canton No. 61.

Peking No. 38.

Singapore.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

6th June, 1930.

25

Con

9

My Lord,

In continuation of Mr. Southorn's secret

despatch of the 8th of May, 1930, I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the long awaited clash

has at last occurred and that heavy fighting is in

progress in the North. Chiang Kai-shek has had ample opportunity to equip himself beyond the

ordinary scale of the Chinese militarist and it

appears that he has not neglected his opportunity.

He has for some time past been building up a machine

for his personal use, and it is believed in some

quarters that he hopes thereby to establish himself

as Dictator.

But even should he be successful in

the present campaign it is very doubtful whether he

will be able to dominate the North.

The Anti-Government combination seems to be

working with some measure of amicable co-operation,

and as the latest reports bring news of Kuominchun

successes, it would be idle to speculate on the

outcome of events.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD PASSFIELD,

&c.,

&c.

&C.,

2.