To James Cantlie
May 2, 1913

ShanghaiMr. Cantlie
140 Harley Street
London
　Submit on my behalf following appeal to British Government,Parliament, Governments of Europe, and give same widest public-ity in all press.
To Governments and peoples of foreign powers:
　As a result of careful investigation by officials appointed by Gov-ernment to inquire into recent murder of Nationalist leader SungChiao-jen in Shanghai, the fact is clearly established that PekingGovernment is seriously implicated in the crime. Consequentlypeople are extremely indignant, and situation has become so ser-ious that nation is on verge of most acute and dangerous crisis yetexperienced. Government conscious of its guilt and enormity ofits offence and realising strength of wave of indignation sweepingover nation as direct result of its criminal deeds and wicked be-trayal of trust reposed in it, and perceiving that it is likely to leadto its downfall, suddenly and unconstitutionally concluded loan forpounds 25,000,000 sterling with quintuple group despite vigorousprotests of representatives of nation now assembled in Peking. This
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high-handed and unconstitutional action of Government instantlyaccentuated intense indignation which had been caused by foulmurder of Sung Chiao-jen, so that at present time fury of peopleis worked up to white heat and terrible convulsion appears almostinevitable. Indeed, so acute has crisis become that widespreadsmouldering embers may burst forth in devastating conflagrationat any moment. From date of birth of Republic I have striven forunity, peace, concord, and prosperity. I recommended Yuan Shih-kai for Presidency because there appeared reasons for believingthat by doing so unification of nation and dawn of era of peaceand prosperity would thereby be hastened. Ever since then I havedone all I could to evolve peace, order, and government out of chaoscreated by revolution. I earnestly desire to preserve peace through-out republic, but my efforts will be rendered ineffective if finan-ciers will supply Peking Government with money that would andprobably will be used in waging war against people. If country isplunged into war at this juncture it will inevitably inflict terriblemisery and suffering upon people who are just beginning to re-cover from dislocation of trade and losses of various kinds causedby revolution. For establishment of Republic they have sacrificedmuch and are now determined to preserve it at all costs. If peopleare now forced into life-and-death struggle for preservation ofRepublic not only will it entail terrible suffering to masses but
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inevitably also adversely affect all foreign interests in China. If Pek-ing Government is kept without funds there is prospect of com-promise between it and people being effected, while immediateeffect of liberal supply of money will probably be precipitation ofterrible and disastrous conflict. In name and for sake of Humanitywhich civilisation holds sacred I therefore appeal to you to exertyour influence with view to preventing bankers from providing Pek-ing Government with funds which at this juncture will assuredlybe utilised as sinews of war. I appeal to all who have lasting wel-fare of mankind at heart to extend to me in this hour of need theirmoral assistance in averting unnecessary bloodshed and in shield-ing my countrymen from hard fate which they have done abso-lutely nothing to deserve.
Sun Yat Sen
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