2
as Prince Regent were regarded as offering a fortunate solution of the difficulty and the new era opened with every appearance of harmonious co-operation between Yuan and the Prince Regent and between Chinese and Manchus generally.
It
soon, however, became noticeable, as I mentioned in private letters, that Yuan was effacing himself, and that all was not right. This impression was not confirmed by Yuan's own statements. Mr. Ijuin, the Japanese Minister, had a private interview. with him on the 22nd December, and found him highly pleased with the Prince Regent and the unexpected capacity which His Highness was displaying in the conduct of affairs. On the 28th December he was almost exclusively the spokesman at a meeting in connection with the Manchurian negotiations between Japan and China, and had evidently no idea of his impending fate.
The circumstances under which he received his dismissal from the Prince Regent a few days later are described in the inclosed letter from Sir W. Hillier, who had the story from Yuan's son.
Yuan started by the first train on the morning of the 3rd instant for Tien-tsin, where he evidently intended to seek refuge in the British Concession, but having apparently been reassured as to his personal safety, he returned here the same afternoon, and left by special train on the 5th instant for his home in Ionan.
The American and German Ministers called upon me on the afternoon the Decree was issued to talk over the situation, and we agreed that the incident ought not to be allowed to pass unnoticed by the foreign Representatives. We felt that Yuan's presence in Peking was a guarantee for stability, and that the Regent's action, if unchallenged, might lead to serious trouble.
An informal meeting, attended by the Representatives of America, Germany, Japan, Russia, Austria, Italy, France and myself, was held at the United States' Legation the following day, when it was decided to request authority from our Governments to make a representation either direct to the Prince Regent or to His Highness through the Wai-wu P'u, on the basis incorporated in my telegram No. 5 of the 3rd instant, a copy of which is inclosed for convenience of reference. The formula eventually adopted was naturally a compromise to meet the divergencies of views held by those present.
The Japanese Minister, with whom I had some previous communication, showed considerable reluctance to join in any representation, and gave as his reason that Yuan had, according to information furnished him by Tieh Liaug, been impeached by censors for his behaviour towards the late Emperor. Subsequently Mr. Ijuin was prepared to join his colleagues on the understanding that Yuan's name should not be mentioned in order to avoid doing him harm and to prevent the representation assuming a personal complexion.
The construction placed upon the Japanese attitude by most of my colleagues is that Yuan's disappearance from public life means the removal of Tong Shao-vi and possibly the Viceroy, 11su Shih-ch'ang from Mukden, and that the substitution of weaker men will suit Japanese policy in Manchuria.
The Russian Minister also showed some hesitation in falling into line with his colleagues, and wished to leave the decision entirely to his Government.
A further meeting of the Diplomatic Body is to be held to-morrow, when it is expected that the views of the different Governments will be received.
Liang Tun-yen has been appointed to act as Yuan's successor in the Wai-wu Pu. He is an intelligent Chinese educated in America, who has bad much experience as Secretary to Chang Chih-tung, but he has contracted the opium habit to such a degree as almost to incapacitate him for sustained and serious work, and his influence in the country is of no account.
His senior colleague, the Grand Secretary Na, is a supple plausible Manchu, who has played many parts and always managed to come out successfully. His promises are as profuse as his performance is scant, and although a sworn brother of Yuan's, his regret at the latter's downfall is doubtless mitigated by the fact that he succeeds him as a member of the Grand Council.
Prince Ching, to whom all communications are addressed, and who should, if the Protocol were observed, he Foreign Minister in reality, no longer takes any active part in the affairs of the Wai-wn Pa, which is now inferior in its personnel to the Tsung-li Yamên, which it replaced, and on which it was intended to be an improvement.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN,
3
Inclosure 1 in No. J.
Imperial Decree received by the Grand Council on January 2, 1909.
(Translation.)
THE Grand Councillor and President of the Board of Foreign Affairs, Yuan Shih-k'ai, was chosen by his late Majesty to fill many high posts, and upon our accession to the throne we conferred further signal marks of tavour upon him, in the He belief that he possessed abilities which would enable him to render good service. has now, however, been seized with a disease in the feet, which makes it difficult for him to move about, and thus renders him unfit for the performance of his duties. We therefore decree, as a mark of compassion, that he shall forthwith vacate his posts and retire to his native place for the purpose of treating his complaint.
(Signed by the Grand Councillors)---
Prince CHING (on leave). SHIH HSU.
CHANG CHIH-TUNG. LU OH'UAN-LIN.
(Seal of the Prince-Regent.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir W. Hillier to Sir J. Jordan.
January 3, 1909.
(Confidential.) My dear Jordan,
YUAN YUAN-TAI, Yuan Kung Pao's son, has just been to see me, and has given me some particulars, for my confidential information, which may possibly interest you.
He told me that, although his father anticipated that his position would sooner or later become untenable, the dismissal of yesterday, for it was a dismissal, came upon him as a complete surprise. Yuan Kung Pao was at the Palace yesterday morning and saw the Prince Regent, who was particularly affable to him, and smiled pleasantly on Yuan when he left and went to his office. The Regent then sent for Chang Chih-tung and Shih Chung-tang, and produced the copy of the Decree that appeared in yesterday's "Gazette." It took both Chang and Shih also by surprise, for it was the first intimation they had that any design was on foot to get rid of Yuan. They remonstrated with the Regent, but to no purpose, as he said that Yuan had to go. They then begged him at least to delay matters and to consult Prince Ch'ing, but the Regent replied that anything Prince Ching might say would not alter his purpose. On the previous day the Regent had an angry interview with Prince Ching, and spoke very sharply to him about the way in which the Wai-wu Pa waz conducted, complaining that the Wai-wn Pu Ministers were not half stiff enough with the foreign Representatives, and gave way to them far too much. The result was that Prince Ching went away very much upset, and did not attend at Court yesterday. In fact, Yuan-t'ai says that the old Prince was so upset that he is really ill, and that this abrupt dismissal of Yuan has worried him more than all the Boxer trouble did, and that there is a strong belief that there is more trouble coming in the way
of wholesale dismissals. Chang Chih-tung, there seems to be no doubt, had not only nothing to do with Yuan's dismissal, but is even alarmed about the security of his own position. Yuan-t'ai asserts that there is a very strong anti-foreign and anti- Chinese faction in the Palace at the present moment, backed up by the Regent and headed by Tich Liang,
It is customary, but not apparently obligatory, for Chinese officials, when given their "congé," as Yuan has been given his, to present themselves at Court and return thanks. Yuan had intended to go to Court this morning, but his son and others are convinced that there are more humiliations in store for Yuan, and they are alarmed for his personal safety, so he was persuaded to go to Tien-tsin by the early train this morning, his wife and family following by the following train. Yuan-t'ai left me to catch the 5:30 train for Tien-tsin to join his father, who is staying at the Astor House Hotel in Tien-tsin. He has no intention of going to his native place, but is standing by to go to Shanghae at a moment's notice, and from there to Hong Kong, if he has reason to believe that vindictive measures are to be taken against him.
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