[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[77]
[January 2.]
3447
SECTION 4.
LOR
No. 1. 3 FEB 1!
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received January 2, 1911.)
(No. 447.) Sir,
WITH reference to Mr. Max Muller's despatch No. 406 of the 9th ultimo, I have
Peking, December 13, 1910. the honour to transmit herewith a summary, drawn up by Mr. Blunt, assistant in the Chinese secretariat, of the principal articles of interest which have appeared in the Peking press during the month of November.
Enclosure in No. 1.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Monthly Summary of the Native Press, November 1910.
THE main topics of interest in the native press during the month under review bave been the constitutional movement, opium, and the K'aiping mines. subjects all form the matter of frequent separate reports, it will only be necessary to As these notice them very briefly.
The Constitutional Movement.
Under this heading are comprised-
(a.) The agitation in favour of the earlier opening of Parliament, which culmi- nated in the decree of the 4th November last, to which reference was made in the similar monthly summary for October;
and
(b.) The formation of a responsible Cabinet, provided for by the same decree; (c.) The movements of the Senate, its growing power, and its struggle with the Grand Council.
(a.) Mr. Max Müller's despatch No. 407 of the 11th November last contained copies of various decrees in connection with the earlier opening of Parliament, and noted the manner of their reception in the Senate, the capital, the provinces, and the press. Any dissatisfaction that was felt with the terms of the decree of the 4th November has, latterly at any rate, made no active appearance in the columns of the native press. In the first half of the month two petitions in favour of the immediate opening of Parliament were mentioned, one emanating from Kweichow, said to have borne 4,188 signatures, and one from the gentry of Canton, but since that time the question, as far as the native press are concerned, has been practically relegated to oblivion.
The
(b) The question of the immediate formation of a responsible Cabinet on the other hand is frequently raised, and its paramount importance dwelt upon. subject has gained added importance in view of the struggle that has been occurring between the Senate and the Grand Council, when the latter body, taxed by the Senate with advising the Throne and causing the issue of decrees contrary to the finding of their body, are reported to have raised in excuse the doctrine of non-responsibility for the terms of decrees. This struggle, in so far as it has not already been dealt with in Mr. Max Müller's despatch No. 413 of the 15th November, is mentioned briefly below. As far as can be gathered from the native press, a responsible Cabinet will be formed from the beginning of next year (Chinese) only. Duke Tsai Tsc is mentioned as its probable president, with Prince Yu Lang as vice-president. The presidency is reported to have been refused by Prince Ching on the score of old age.
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(c) The struggle between the Senate and the Grand Council, whatever its real importance may be, affords ample 'copy" for the native press, which at any rate pay it the compliment of continuous attention. Ever since its formation the Senate has
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