"Everybody talks about the unification of China. Newspapers, s0- cities, meetings, all discuss' the unification of China. Some believe, 'a3 I have hitherto believed, that unification might be achieved by negotiation. But what are the facts We have been negotiating for almost 10 years. We are still negotiating.
"No authority is recognized. So-' called independent generals estabish themselves in positions of autho-
Shanghai Festering with Plots.
"Last summer the so-called independent general of Chekiang and I signed an agreement to preserve the pence. I signed in all sincerity for Tam a lover of peace. Ax much as I realized the injustice and equity of the situation, T signed that agreement so that the people of Kiangsu would not suffer the horrors and privations of war. The peace agreement. was praised by many local people and by many foreigners, but it was criticized as unworkable by many of my col-Teagues in the government, who realized that there can be no peace in China when any province or nny official in the country regards himself as greater than the whole coun try, ax independent of law and authority. So far as Tam cones ed, [have never taken " step which was a breach of that pence agre ment. But what did Chekiang do?
"In Shanghai political criminals have gathered together and plotted to destroy the Republic of China preventing unification. These persons are to-lay ce-operating. and supporting General Lu. The situation in Fukien was fomented by Chekiang and when the rebellion was crushed, the rebels were give positions of honour among the Ché- kiang military forces. According to the third article of the Peace Agreement, Chekiang should have disarmed the rebel troops of Fukien when under Chekiang.
"These rebel troops used to China b and Shanghai are the scenes of constant plots against Gov ment, if, from Chekiang, efforts are" constantly being made make the east of China wendent from the vest of the ry? General Lar hus broken the peace agreement by these ne-ities, which all will agree must make more distant the day when the Republic of China shall be ax great and as strong ay she was ancient times."
Full Support of Colleagues "Marshal Chi" 1 asked, "in that you are AMausHat Lu YUNG-ISIANG oF fon your own account ind that you are not being wholeheartedly supported by your col-
Marshal Chi replied: "Anyone who has studied my career will realize rity where they are able to keep the country from unification and to prolong internal and internation. al difficulties which besot China.
Although I am a military man, I am a man of peace. If we could unity China by peaceful methods, I should be in favour of it, above all else. But one grows despairing as the years pass, and as the state of the country grows worse, "The time comes when there must be action. Kiangsu has always re-Jcognized itself as but a part of the Republic of China and loyal to General Lu considers Chekiang i dependent of the Republic of Chin The fact that the most important lcommereial city in China, Shanghai, is a buffer between Kiangsu and Chekiang makes for danger to the whole country. Shanghai is historically, traditionally and geography ically a city of Kiangsu, By a poli tical accident, the control of Shanghai has become vested in the so-called independent officials of Chekiang. This has led to grave political difficulties, as every Chinese and foreigner knows. Foreign business men and officials have come to me and have asked that law: and treaties be enforced in Shanghai. Complaints have been made to me of opium and arms smuggling and other illegalities. With sorrow and, shame I have been foreed to that Tam not impetuous. 1 would not take this step unless I had the authority to do so and the consent of my colleagues. T have no selfish ambitions. I am not setting out to conquer the country. his effort is designed only to establish what is right, namely the inclusion politically of Shanghai in Kiangsu og Shanghai is geographically a part of Kiangsu, My colleagues ini the government and in the neighbour ing provinees desire that I should take this step and I have rheic hearty support und ce-operatic It makes very little difference what anyone says, as events will show who is speaking the truth and: who is confusing the mind of the public by falsehoods.
Troops Behaviour Pledged our Hewspaper may assure the' people of Shanghai that my troops will be orderly and that once Shanghai has become a part of Kiangsu again, the smuggling of opium and arms Wi and that, in the commercial capital of the country, all efforts toward destruction of China by continued civil war will case. Again I repeat, I love peace. want peace. Tam ready to make beice. But China must be unific and if it is necessary to unify it China by war, then there must be build, armament and age, of which the Haichi probably is' the most powerful, frequently changing station between the Arsenal and Woosung. Their allegiance is said to have been given to Peking and at the moment they are controlled by an Admiral at Nanking, so one must form one's own conclusions as. to which side they will support. It is interesting to note, however that, has been reported that the Admiral has requested Peking to pay the men in advance. vee
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.