[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[43189]
No. 1.
[November 28.]
SECTION 2
0
38371
(No. 407.) Sir,
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received November 28.7.02
REGE 15 DEC 10 Peking, November 11, 1910. WITH reference to my telegram No. 181 of the 5th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a translation of the Imperial decree issued on the 4th instant,* in reply to the memorial submitted by the Senate praying for the early opening of the National Parliament.
The decree shortens the period of time of preparation for the Parliament from nine to five years, and fixes 1913 as the year for its opening. Prior to that, a Cabinet is to be formed and the details of parliamentary procedure and elections are to be drawn up.
The general tenour of the decree would seem to show that the Prince Regent and his chief advisers are apprehensive that even the considerable concession thus made to popular demands may not entirely satisfy that large and growing section of the nation which now takes an active interest in political affairs. Indications of this are to be found in the strict injunctions to the provincial authorities to preserve order in their jurisdictions, and in the unusually lengthy list of counter-signatures appended to the decree, which include the names of one or more responsible heads of everyone A further indication is given by the brief decree of the Metropolitan Boards. (translation enclosed herewith*) which is printed in the "Government Gazette immediately after the lengthy one above referred to. The second decree enjoins the immediate and peaceful return to their homes of all the representatives of the people from the provinces in connection with this movement.
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On the 5th instant appeared the Imperial decree, translation of which forms the third enclosure transmitted herewith," appointing Prince P'u-Lun, the President of the Senate, and Duke Tsai-Tse commissioners for compiling the draft scheme of constitutional laws, with power to memorialise the Throne in the event of any addition to their number being necessary.
In my despatch No. 387 of the 28th October I spoke of the memorial as the all-absorbing topic of conversation in educated circles in Peking. The interest taken in the Imperial decree was correspondingly widespread and genuine. Organised and orderly public demonstrations are not characteristic of Chinese expression of opinion on questions of national policy. On the 7th instant, however, the day on which the decree was read out in the Senate, a universal holiday was accorded to all schools and colleges in the capital, and in the evening dense bodies of students, bearing lighted lanterns, thronged the main street of the Chinese city and the open space in front of the outermost gate of the Palace and sang patriotic songs in celebration of the clemency of the Prince Regent in yielding to the wishes of the people. The yellow dragon banners suspended from native shops on the 7th and 8th instant were a less convincing token of popular enthusiasm, as the orders for their display were issued through the police.
It is impossible to say that the Imperial decree did not satisfy to some extent public opinion, but the feeling displayed in the Senate after the reading of the decree any further proposal for the relaxation shows that the passage therein, stating that
of the definitely fixed period is absolutely impossible" is likely to become a dead letter with even more rapidity than was the case with the similar passage in the previous decree of the 27th June last. I am informed by a Chinese official who was present yesterday in the Senate that when two congratulatory telegrams from the provincial assemblies of Kiangsu and Chekiang were read out, a member shouted out that the decrée was rather a subject for condolences than congratulations, making use, so my informant said, of a very strong word, only used for condolences on a death.
The sentence in the present decree which affirmed that the Throne," without waiting for the prayers of Ministers and people, had already been planning for the hastening on of the constitution," was read out by one member, who ingeniously urged * Not printed.
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