893.00/3817
The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 7.]
Sir: As throwing an interesting light on the inner workings of the so-called Canton Government, I have the honor to enclose herewith the translation of a letter from Admiral Li Ho, of the Chinese Navy, addressed to a friend in the President’s office and intended for the information of the President.7
The writer was sent to Canton as one of the numerous class of emissaries who are now to be found in the various opposing political camps endeavoring to arrange a general reconciliation. He is described as a Christian of many years’ standing and worthy of credence. In brief, the letter ascribes sincerity to the Administrative Directors, but considerable divergence in views, and indicates rivalry between Sun Yat-sen and Ch’en Ch’iung-ming.
The Legation is reliably informed from other sources, as well, that the associates of Sun Yat-sen ever since the Revolution of 1911 have been greatly embarrassed by his impracticable and grandiose schemes. He is reported to be a man of great personal vanity, although sincere in his motives, and much given to initiating projects of national magnitude that he has not as yet in any case brought to fruition. His prestige is undoubtedly great in his own province of Kwangtung, but in the North he is regarded as at the best an unpractical idealist …
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩