The American Consul General in Mukden at that time, O. Edmund Clubb, later recalled that because of his American education Sun was regarded as an outsider: "personal loyalty was counted by the Nationalist regime as being more important than competence, and when you establish a standard like that you run into danger."
Konsul Jenderal Amerika di Mukden pada waktu itu, O. Edmund Clubb, kemudian menyebutnya bahwa karena Sun pernah mengenyam pendidikan Amerika, Sun dianggap sebagai orang luar, "loyalitas pribadi diperhitungkan oleh rezim Nasionalis lebih penting daripada kompetensi, dan ketika Anda menetapkan standar seperti itu, Anda dalam bahaya."