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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[41906]
November 17.}
36747
SECTION 1.
REC Roof 1 DEC 10.
No. 1.
448
(No. 387.) Sir,
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received November 17.)
Peking, October 28, 1910. WITH reference to my telegram No. 176 of yesterday's date, I have the honour to report that, as the result of the marked and growing agitation which has recently made itself felt throughout the Empire, a resolution was unanimously adopted by the newly-established Senate at its session of the 22nd October for the presentation to the throne of a joint memorial pressing once again for the curtailment of the period of nine years originally fixed for the opening of China's Parliament proper.
It will thus be seen that the clear instructions contained in the Imperial decree of the 27th June, 1910 (copy of which was euclosed in my despatch No. 237 of the 22nd July last), refusing for a second time the request of the delegates from the provincial assemblies for the earlier opening of Parliament, and prohibiting any further petitions to the throne on this subject, have been completely disregarded.
The leading part in the movement which has culminated in this step has heen taken by the various provincial assemblies throughout the country, which have spared no pains and in many instances expended considerable sums of money to secure the impression of their wishes both on the provincial authorities and more It is reported that the especially on the highest officials in the capital itself. viceroys and governors of eleven provinces have sent memorials to the throne recommending the establishment of a responsible Cabinet and the speedy convening of the Imperial Parliament. It is well known that Princes Tsai Tao and Tsai Hsun, the brothers of the Prince Regent, are in favour of such a step, and several of the Chinese Ministers abroad have sent telegrams urging the convening of the National Assembly. The trend of public opinion and the agitation in favour of the movement are so strong that many of the princes and the higher officials, who were opposed to any coneession in June, are now, if not from conviction, at all events from fear of the possible consequences of a refusal, in favour of the Prince Regent's granting the It is significant of the strength of request for a speedy opening of Parliament. provincial feeling on this question that the delegates of the provincial assemblies in the Senate have so prevailed on the Imperial nominees and the deputies appointed by the Grand Council and the various boards that not a single member from either of the latter categories, not a few of whom were known until quite recently to be opposed to the idea of curtailing the probationary period, ventured to raise his voice in opposition to the motion for the joint memorial, the unanimous adoption of which was the signal for a burst of enthusiasmu both from the members and from the public in the galleries.
The actual form of the memorial was discussed at the session of the Senate held on the 26th October, when, after a statement by Duke Tsai Tse, the President of the Board of Finance, that the present critical state of China's finances would doubtless be better regulated when once the establishment of Parliament had become an accomplished fact, and that that establishment would consequently be welcomed by the Board over which he himself presided, the draft memorial was read out and discussion thereon invited. In support of the memorial one of the members, alluding, doubtless, to the rumour that the Prince Regent has expressed his willingness to reduce the probationary period to three years, stated that the present need of China was not a reduction of the period to three years, two years, or one year only, but the immediate opening of the national Parliament.
Such also is the tenour of the lengthy memorial itself, which was unanimously approved, and has since been presented to the Prince Regent and referred by him to the Government Council.
It is indicative of the change that has recently taken place in the political life of Peking that this memorial and its probable reception by the Prince Regent, a question of purely internal politics, is the all-absorbing topic of conversation in all educated circles in the capital, foreign as well as Chinese.
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