$2
and may be taken as the parting words of advice given by the victors to the vanquished.
The first session of the Senate is thus concluded, and although it has been rumoured that a special session will be held during April next, it seems more probable It remains to pass that the Assembly's work as a body is finished until November. judgment on the results of that work. There is no question that the Senate has to some extent disappointed the expectations formed of it. These expectations were extravagant, but the contrast between the views expressed by the better class news- papers during the early sittings of the Senate and the valedictories published on the conclusion of its session is remarkable. It is accused as a body of having forced a conflict with the Grand Council only to suffer a humiliating defeat, of having disregarded the real interests of the country by attending to trifles and neglecting essentials. Its members are with some reason accused of appearing late at debates, of absenting themselves without leave, of largely confining their interest to questions immediately concerning their own provinces, and of attempting to shelve such questions of paramount importance as the budget On in favour of popular but trifling measures, such as the cutting of the queue. the other hand, it is allowed by their more moderate critics that this was an initial session, that the members had undoubted difficulties to contend with, that they showed remarkable orderliness in their conduct of debates, and that, if they have accomplished nothing else, they have made the Executive to feel that they are not altogether free from restraint.
Official opinion was likely to be hostile, and the parting words from the Throne, as contained in the decree of prorogation, are probably representative of official opinion on their labours. The Message contains no words of praise, but amounts in effect to an admonition to the representatives of the popular Assembly to the know- ledge necessary for practical statesmanship.
It must be remembered that the functions of the Assembly, according to its constitution, were twofold, educational as well as advisory. In its latter capacity the Senate failed to exercise the influence which a body claiming to interpret the wishes of the people might reasonably have expected to attain. Its one concrete achieve- ment has been the hastening of the period for the opening of China's Parliament. It also passed such important measures as the new criminal law, the press laws, the law of copyright, and above all the budget, but none of these measures except the law of copyright has as yet received the final approval of the Throne, As regards its educa- tional function--to prepare the members and the people at large for a parliamentary régime--the labours of the Senate have certainly been attended with a measure of success. If only from their failures, the members must have learnt what attitude to avoid during the next session, while the Government must have learnt much regarding the attitude and temper of the country. Foreigners who have come into contact with individual members of the Senate have been much impressed with the earnestness and moderation of their views, and there seems every reason to believe that a second session of the Assembly will be productive of more solid achievement than the first has been. The members have now dispersed to their own provinces, and it is impos- sible as yet to tell how far they will have the sympathy of their fellow provincials in the result of their struggle with the Grand Council, which has beon, constitutionally considered, the greatest event of the session. In Peking their departure has caused a sensible feeling of relief in official circles, and for the moment the forces of reaction are on the side of the Grand Council, which is reasserting its authority in the government of the country.
I have, &c.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6642]
No. 1.
[February 21.]
CO
450
8199
SECTION 1914 MAR
Question asked in the House of Commons, February 21, 1911.
The Earl of Ronaldshay,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to telegrams appearing in the press, in which it is stated that, as a result of the infringement by China of certain of the provisions of the treaty of St. Petersburgh of 1881, Russian troops are being mobilised on the Chinese frontier in the neighbourhood of Kuldja; and has he any information upon the matter which he can give to the House.
Answer by Mr. McKinnon Wood (for Sir E. Grey),
The matter is one which concerns Russia and China, and I cannot add to the information about the difficulty which has been made public. Negotiations are proceeding between Russia and China, and I have no reason to suppose that a satisfactory settlement will not be reached.
[1909 - -1]
J. N. JORDAN.