File No. 893.00/2357
Minister Reinsch to the Secretary of State
Peking, March 18, 1916, 8 p.m.
The Government received telegram from the authorities of Kuangsi in which they demanded cancellation of the Imperial movement and threatened joint action with Yunnan. It is also reported that Lung, governor of Kwangtung, counsels settlement with Kwangsi.
The governor of Kuangsi induced the Chinese Government to supply him with money and military stores for the invasion of Yunnan. The Government is in the dilemma of either furnishing aid to governors who may turn against it or refusing in case of doubt with the result inevitably breaking off relations.
Before the arrival of the Kwangsi telegram the Government had determined in view of its military success in Szechuan to offer favorable terms to the revolutionists; the new development precludes this course and threatens to array South against North.