and ecog i en t
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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(No. 290.) Sir,
709
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[July 29.]
SECTION 2.
2 SEP 07!
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 29.)
Peking, June 13, 1907. I HAVE the honour to report that Hsu Shih-ch'ang, the Governor-General of Manchuria, in company with Tong Shoa-yi and Chu Chia-pao, the Governors of Fêngtien and Kirin Provinces, left Peking on the 6th June for Tien-tsin, where they stayed some days in consultation with Yuan Shih-k'ai, starting for their posts on the 10th June.
In the Peking "Gazette" of the 24th May appeared a long Memorial in their joint names, sketching the new system of Government organization to be adopted in the three provinces. I have the honour to inclose a brief résumé of this Memorial.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Résumé of Memorial on the Reorganization of Manchuria.
IN each of the three provinces is to be established a Provincial Government Office as the sole centre of authority. At the head of this is the Viceroy, and after him the Governor. Under them are the Executive and Deliberative Councils, with a Government Secretary at the head of each. All matters of administration come before the former, and all legislation is to be discussed by the latter, whose members are not, as such, officials. Under the Executive Council are to be seven Departments, for International Affairs, Banner* Affairs, Domestic Affairs, Education, Finance, Industries, and Mongolian Affairs respectively. Under each of these are to be whatever inferior offices may be necessary.
Separate from these are to be a Council of Military Organization and a Com- missioner of Justice, who is charged with the control of judicial matters.
The local authorities below the rank of Taotai will be Prefects, Independent Sub-Prefects, and Department Magistrates only, each of whom will be in direct communication with the Taotai.
The seal of the province is to be in the hands of the Viceroy, or in his absence of the Governor, who also holds a seal as Tartar-General, both of which are to be used in the case of affairs connected with the banners or other matters of exceptional importance. Memorials to the Throne, other than purely formal ones, are to be by the Viceroy and Governor jointly, but in the absence of the Viceroy the Governor may memorialize on matters of urgency, using the name of the Viceroy and consulting with him by telegraph.
The head-quarters of the Viceroy are to be in Fêngtien, with travelling quarters in Kirin and Heilungchiang. The Viceroy and Governors may take circuit whenever it is thought necessary, and the Governors may also visit one another's provinces to consult on important business. The Viceroy asks that he should be allowed to go to Peking and have audience with the Throne on matters of urgent importance.
Appointments to all posts from the third rank upwards are to be on the recom- mendation of the Viceroy and Governor. Men of ability may be employed without reference to their previous career, and whether they hold official rank or not; officers may be transferred from one province to another.
and
The provincial Governments are not to consider themselves bound by hard and fast rules, but are allowed liberty of action.
The new organization is to be adopted in Fêngtien at once, and gradually in Kirin and Heilungchiang,
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I.e., native Manchus.