ABSTRACT
The telegram of Liu Zhilu et al., after listing the eight crimes of the national government, adds a sigh, “Alas,” and continues, “In short, bring out the troops who will quell the disturbance, punish their crimes, and save the people. If they share the common aim of exterminating the Communists, even enemies are our friends. The upright army is the stronger; victory need not wait until battle is joined. He who receives [the support of] heaven will prosper; it is not hard to distinguish between benevolence and violence.” All of those listed in Liu’s telegram, such as Chief Executive Duan Qirui, all ministers and vice ministers, the inspectors general, provincial governors, and commanders Zhang, Xiao, Zhao, Fang, and Zhou, 1 and even Messrs. Cen, Wu, Kang, and Liang, 2 of course share the aim of exterminating the Communists. But do not Governor Clementi 3 of Hong Kong and Prime Minister Baldwin 4 in London share this aim as well? These high positions are not on the list. Furthermore, Governor Clementi has helped out with a good deal of money and military supplies, and he has also protected Commander-in-Chief Chen by setting up a general headquarters in Hong Kong. His anti-Communist resolve shines like the sun, but his exalted office has been omitted from the list. I really do not understand what this means! The statement at the end of the telegram, “the upright army is the stronger,” must be classed as even more mixed up. Actually, he has written a hymn to the merits and virtues of the national government.
