[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Gover
158
C.0.
£
succeed Baron Grenier, but has not yet arrived at his post. During the past year, M. de Prelle de la Nieppe has been chargé d'affaires. He is a kind, hospitable man, and joins thoroughly in all the social amusements of the place, but shows little discrimination in the choice of his companions. His work is not arduous, and consists in looking after a few Belgian missionaries and railway employés, and in watching the considerable financial interests of Belgium in foreign companies in China. has no secretaries. His wife is an amiable lady of Greek extraction, who dislikes Peking.
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
He
[33924]
Mexico. Of the Mexican chargé 'affaires I can only repeat what Sir John Jordan said that he is seldom seen.
No. 1.
30791
RECE [September 1900 10
SECTION 2.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received September 19.) (No. 295.) Sir,
Peking, August 31, 1910. SINCE the return early in the month of Prince Tsai Tao from his military mission abroad several important changes have taken place in high official circles, which are, rightly or wrongly, said to be directly attributable to his influence.
in
On the 17th August an Imperial decree was issued, dismissing Shih Hsü and
years Wu Yu-sheng from the Grand Council. The former had been nearly four his post, and twice acted for short periods as President of the Wai-wu Pu, in the absence of Na-tung. He is an amiable Manchu of no particular ability. Wu Yu-sheng, who was appointed a probationary Grand Councillor in February last, obtained his post on account of his friendship with the Regent, who admired his literary talents.
The native press states that the dismissal of these two officials is due to the opposition they showed to Prince Tsai Tao's proposal for the abolition of the queue, but it is more probably due to their extreme conservatism and dislike of every innovation and reform, however necessary.
The two vacancies on the Grand Council have been filled by the appointment of Prince Yi Lang and Hsü Shih-ch'aug, the former being a member of the Imperial Family, associated with Prince Tsai T'ao in the direction of the Army Council, an enlightened and agreeable man, well known both to Sir John Jordan and myself, Both these while the latter was President of the Board of Communications. appointments should strengthen the Grand Council, and would appear to indicate that the Government have at last come to realise that, in view of the constant opposition of the provinces to general measures of reform, it is necessary to place at the head of affairs men of well-known strength of character.
The change, however, which has caused the most satisfaction is the nomination He is well known of Tang Shao-yi to be President of the Board of Communications.
as a henchman of Yuan Shib-k'ai's, and if he decides to take up his post, the way may perhaps thus be payed for Yuan's eventual return. Tang's task at the Board ef Communications will be no easy one, as he will have to face the provinces over the Hukuang loan and the Shanghai-Ningpo railway question.
For a time it was believed that Sheng Hsuan-huai, the junior vice-president of the board, who has recently returned to "Peking from Shanghai, after many years of practical banishment in the latter place as Treaty Commissioner, would become President of the Board of Communications, but he has merely been instructed to proceed to his post, and at the same time he is deputed to assist the Board of Finance on currency matters. Since the publication of the edict of the 17th August, the native papers
have been full of rumours that Taug Shao-yi will be transferred to the Wai-wu Pu as president, and that Sheng Hsuan-huai will receive the Presidentship
of the Board of Finance.
That further changes are possibly in store seems to be indicated by the summoning to Peking within the last week of Hsi Liang, Viceroy of Manchuria, Jui Cheng, Viceroy of Hu-kuang, and Ch'en K'uei-lung, Viceroy of Chibli. Daily consultations of these high officials with the Prince Regent and the Grand Council are reported, though it is impossible to discover what the subjects of discussion are. The general belief is that negotiations are taking place with Yuan Shih-k'ai to secure his return to the Grand Council, thus taking the place of Lu Ch'uan-lin, who died a week ago at an advanced age. There is a great divergence of opinion as to whether Yuan will accept the invitation to return, if any is proffered, and it is rumoured that he bas hitherto rejected the overtures made to him. In many quarters, however, his return is regarded simply as a question of time, but obviously, in a country like China, the only course to pursue is to wait for actual events, and not to be led by more rumours to indulge in prophesy.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER,
[2893 -2]