893.00/8787: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27—6:08 a.m.]
Chief topic of conversation here is the changed attitude toward foreigners as I reported in telegram April 25th, noon. According to unmistakable evidence Borodin22 has brought about the conciliatory atmosphere now so noticeable. He has been responsible for practically all of the major policies of the Nationalist Government. Within the last few days he has approached several well-known Americans and volunteered information which convinced them that the Government has been persuaded by him to adopt a new policy for the purpose of putting an end to present economic strangulation. Borodin has particularly been concerned lest foreign powers should become so angry over loss of trade and prestige as to intervene and suppress the revolution completely. Government officials are exclusively devoting their time to a desperate effort to regain popular support among both Chinese and foreigners. The realization that an acute shortage of rice exists is a new factor. There have already been small riots at rice shops.
To make way for northward troop movements the passenger traffic on the railroad from Hankow to Peking has today been cancelled.
Legation informed.
- Michael Borodin, Russian adviser to the Chinese Nationalist Government.↩