C.O.
9564
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j 622
TRECH
REGP 18 MAR 09
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[January 26.]
SECTION 1.
}
[3666]
No. 1.
Memorandum respecting the Dismissal of Yuan Shi Kai.
ON the 2nd January, 1909, an Imperial Decree was published in Peking which, after briefly alluding to Yuan Shi Kai's services under the previous reign, stated that he was incapacitated by rheumatism from discharging his duties and commanded him to vacate public service and to return to his native place to recuperate. Another Decree appointed Na-tung to be a probationary member of the Grand Council, and Liang Tun Yen, Vice-President of the Wai-wu Pu, was appointed Acting President in the place of Yuan.
Sir J. Jordan, in reporting the above, stated that the whole affair bore the appearance of a reactionary Manchu intrigue, that it was well known that Yuan was not ill, and that the step amounted to ignominious dismissal.
At an informal meeting of the majority of the Diplomatic Body held at Peking on the following day it was resolved to recommend to their Governments that a representation should be made to the Prince Regent or to the Wai-wu Pu on the subject.
Yuan himself, fearing for his personal safety, went to Tien-tsin on the 4th January and lodged in a foreign hotel in the British Concession, his intention being to proceed to Shanghae and Hong Kong if he had reason to anticipate vindictive measures. He returned, however, to Peking the same evening.
A diversity of views arose among the Diplomatic Body in regard to making representations Some received no instructions, and the Japanese Minister considered that any collective action would be interpreted as interference, if not a threat. Sir J. Jordan and his American colleague, however, still held that the serious attention of the Chinese Government should be called to the incident, and suggested that their Governments should authorize them to make representations to the Wai-wu Pu.
It was considered here that, although such action might possibly be considered by the Chinese Government to be interference, it could not be in reality construed as such more than in the case of representations made to them when disturbances or untoward events were at any time anticipated, and, moreover, the reinstatement of Yuan was not to be asked for.
After consultation together, His Majesty's Government and that of the United States authorized their Ministers to act as they had proposed. Joint representations were accordingly made on the 15th January by Sir J. Jordan and Mr. Rockhill to Prince Ching, who received them with marked friendliness and requested them to assure their Governments that Yuan's dismissal would have no effect whatever on the policy of the Chinese Government, which as regards reforms as well as foreign relations would continue on the same lines as before. The Prince Regent understood thoroughly that a continuance of that policy was indispensable, and Prince Ch'ing personally guaranteed that there would be no reversal or change for the worse. The latter explained that Yuan was removed for reasons which he could not very well disclose, but which were not connected with reforms or with foreign relations; he said that no one regretted Yuan's departure more than he did, and gave the two Ministers distinctly to understand that he considered Yuan's retirement to be temporary only.
The Ministers were left in no doubt that their representations were welcomed, and Prince Ching made no secret of the fact that Yuan's removal was not in accordance with his wishes. Sir J. Jordan learnt subsequently that their written representations were to be submitted to the Prince Regent, and that Prince Ching felt sure that they would have a steadying effect."
*
His Majesty's Government authorized Sir J. Jordan to express their satisfaction at the manner in which their representations had been received, and to say that they took note of Prince Ch'ing's assurances that Chinese policy would continue on the same lines as before.
There was a suspicion in certain quarters in Peking that Yuan's downfall might be due to Japanese intrigue with the Manchu party, and Reuter's telegrams appeared in the press to the effect that the dismissal of Yuan and Tong Shao Yi,would facilitate
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