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would the will of the people be set at nought but there would have been considerable danger to peace and good order for which the Government would have been reluctant to undertake the heavy responsibility. The only course for the Government, consequently, has been to respect the wishes of the people and promulgate the bill passed by the acting Li Fa Yuan to organise the assembly of citizens' representatives to consider and determine this fundamental question. When the people of the provinces petitioned to the Li Fa Yuan for the change of the form of government, the President, on the 9th September, expressed to the Li Fa Yuan unsuitable to the circumstances. On the the opinion that the change was 10th October a presidential mandate, quoting the petition of various Mongolian and Mohammedan princes and nobles to change the form of government, again stated that any hasty and rash change was undesirable, and admonished all the superintendents of elections carefully to obey the provisions of the law in the discharge of their duties. On the 12th October a further telegram was despatched to the superintendents of elections to observe the election laws scrupulously, and not to be hasty or careless. It is evident, therefore, that the Government did not originally approve of the step, and a fortiori, has not had any intention of bringing about a hasty change. But as, according to the constitutional compact of this country, the sovereignty is vested in the whole body of the people, there has been no other Placed in this difficult position course but to await the decision of the people. the Government has exhausted every means of compromise, actuated with the desire on the one hand to respect the laws, and on the other to obey the wishes of the people so as to preserve the general peace.
"At the time when the discussion in regard to the form of government was at its height, the Government, apprehensive that it might lead to the occurrence of untoward events, more than once telegraphed to the civil and military officials of the provinces to ask whether they could absolutely maintain public peace and good order. The reply each time, and in every case from the respective officials was, that if the will of the people was obeyed in the solution of the question of the form of government, the provinces would hold themselves responsible for the public order, so that when the change should be carried out no untoward events would occur. The sources of information at the disposal of foreigners cannot naturally be as full and as accurate as those of the Chinese; inasmuch as the provincial officials have uniformly reported that they would be responsible for peace and good order, and have not reported of any strong undercurrent of opposition, nor of any ground for anxiety in regard to Shanghai, the Yang-tsze region, and South China, the Government can only place full credence and reliance on these reports.
"As for the reasons why our people desire the monarchy, they are these: With China's immense area, the differences in the five races, the changeableness of popular the frequent feeling, and the comparatively low standard of education of the masses, change of the head of the State under a republic will be a source of great danger and disturbance, as witness recent events in other countries. Not only will life and property of Chinese be in jeopardy, but the business and interests of subjects and The republic has citizens of friendly Powers in China will likewise be insecure, now been established four years in China, during this time men of wealth and capital have been unwilling to invest their money, the business and trade of the people as well as the administration of officials have lacked permanent policies and plans. a feeling of instability has prevailed, and government has been difficult. It is for these reasons that the people desire a change in the form of government. Since the large majority of the people of this country has considered that the republican form of government is unsuitable to China, and since the question has been referred to the assembly of citizen's representatives for decision the constitutional foundation of the State is already shaken, and in the minds of men there are expectancy and hesitation. The political conditions have been affected, and trade and commerce are showing signs of stagnation. If evil persons should seize the opportunity to disseminate false rumours, the people would be even more disturbed. In case troubles should arise on account of this constitutional question remaining protracted without a decision, not only would our people suffer loss and injury, but the subjects and citizens of friendly Powers in China would also be subject to apprehension and alarm. So long as the form of government which has been referred for decision remains undetermined, so long will there be unrest in men's minds, and so long will there exist an element of danger. This is the more so since at the time of the communication of the Japanese Government's advice, five provinces have already declared for constitutional monarchy. In some, on the part of the people of the country, the hope and expectations are for the benefits of permanent peace and tranquillity, on the part of the Government,
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there are the further hope and expectation that the subjects and citizens of friendly Powers resident in China will be secure in the pursuit of their business, and that the peace of the Orient will be maintained, in which hope and expectation the Chinese Government is in complete accord with the Governments of the friendly Powers.
"There is a small number of turbulent rebels who are seeking refuge in foreign countries, and in other localities beyond the jurisdiction of the Chinese Government. Whether a republic or a monarchy, as in the past so in the future, their character will always be that of destruction and violence, and their plans those of trouble and turmoil. The utmost they can do is the spreading of rumours to incite sedition and rebellion, but they are devoid of all power or influence. In the last few years they have created occasional disturbances, but they have immediately been suppressed, so that the general situation has never been affected. The provinces are now taking added precautions against them. It is hoped that the Governments of the friendly Powers, in all localities beyond the jurisdiction of the Chinese Government, will co-operate in future, as heretofore, in keeping them under restraint and control; they will thus certainly have no opportunity of creating trouble.
"The Chinese Government appreciates the good intentions of the Japanese Government which has tendered advice in a friendly manner, and has declared that it has no intention whatever to interfere in the internal affairs of China. Inasmuch as the Japanese Government is animated purely and solely by the desire to maintain the peace of the Orient, this desire coincides entirely with that of the Chinese Government. The Japanese Government may rest assured that the Chinese Government will spare no means to attain this object and aim."
"I request you, Monsieur le Chargé d'Affaires, to convey the above to the Japanese Government."
Respecting the question addressed by your Excellency, the Chinese Government is at all times, in accordance with international law and custom, responsible for the maintenance of public order. In carrying out of the change in the form of government, the Government is confident that there will be no untoward events.
I request your Excellency to convey the above to the British Government. (Copy to Tokyo and Hongkong.)