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ALS signed “Y. S. Sun,” one page, 5 x 8, "On board R.M.S. 'Adriatic'" letterhead, November 8, 1911. Handwritten letter to his British friends and benefactors, "Dr. & Mrs. Cantlie," in full: "I am coming to London and will see you as soon as I have settled up business. Please keep my movement strictly secret for it is very important to our cause. If any letters and cablegrams send to your care for me please keep them for my calling." In fine condition.
A pioneer of first aid, the physician James Cantlie befriended Sun Yat-sen while teaching him at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese. While living in exile in 1896, Sun was detained at the Chinese Legation in London, where the Chinese Imperial secret service planned to smuggle him back to China to execute him for his revolutionary activities. Cantlie played a major role in obtaining his release, leading a media campaign in The Times and The Globe. The Cantlies remained Sun’s closest friends and allies outside China for the rest of his life.
In the years that followed, Sun Yat-sen oversaw and instigated a string of failed revolutionary attempts to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Exiled and continuing his political activities abroad, Sun was in the United States rallying support for his cause when he received momentous news: on October 10, 1911, Huang Xing had successfully led a military uprising in Wuchang—an event that would mark the beginning of the Xinhai Revolution. Energized by this breakthrough, Sun quickly altered his plans and departed for London, as confirmed by the present letter, with the aim of securing British financial backing for the emerging Chinese republic.
Despite his best efforts, his stay in London proved fruitless in terms of securing material support. Undeterred, Sun left for China and arrived in Shanghai on December 21, 1911, where he was met with great enthusiasm. Within days, he was appointed the 'Provisional President' of the nascent Republic of China, which was formally declared on January 1, 1912. However, recognizing the need to unify the fractured political factions and to gain the allegiance of powerful northern military leaders, Sun voluntarily stepped down shortly thereafter, ceding the presidency to Yuan Shikai in hopes of stabilizing the young republic. A remarkable letter from a triumphant period in Sun Yat-sen's life and political career.
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