893.00/12–1547
Memorandum by the Ambassador in China (Stuart)89
Governor T. V. Soong told the British Ambassador in confidence that he felt very pessimistic both as to the provincial and the national outlook. The former because of (1) dykes badly needing repair, (2) insufficient rice with consequent popular discontent and perhaps starvation, (3) wide-spread banditry. The latter seemed to be getting rapidly worse. Governor Soong’s own health seemed to have improved.
For some reason the new assignment for Chang Fa-kuei does not seem to be taking effect and he is quite disgruntled, sulking in his tent like Achilles.
- Received in the Department about December 29.↩