CO129-431 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [1-2] — Page 440

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SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY

OF CHINA,

possibility of two or three rival candidates for the Presidency appealing for support to so many rival factions.

The Committee do not suggest that the Successor need be designated by name, a course against which there may be cogent reasons of state; they only desire to see some public announcement that the contingency has been provided for under the Constitution of the country.

H.M. Under Secretary of State

for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office,

Downing Street, S.W.

I have, &c., (Signed) F. ANDERSON,

Chairman.

SIR,

China Association to Foreign Office.

China Association,

159, Cannon Street, E.C.

27th May, 1914.

It has been represented to the General Committee of this Association that one of the principal reasons which militate against a revival of confidence in the stability of the Chinese Government is the fact that, so far as is known, no provision has been made in the revised Constitution for the succession to the Presidency in the event of the death or incapacity of Yuan Shih-kai. The uncertainty of what will happen in such event is having a serious prejudicial effect on all business relations and more particularly on the credit of China herself, as is evidenced by the extremely low quotations of all Chinese Stocks and Securities on the London Market. It is known that several loans have recently been contracted for railway development in China, but it is practically impossible to float them except on terms which would further depreciate existing securities.

The Committee desire to submit for the consideration of Secretary Sir Edward Grey, whether some steps could not be taken to represent to the President the present uncertain and indeed dangerous state of affairs, and to urge in the interests of China herself that there should be no delay in settling this question. It would be lamentable, if, after the turmoil of the last three years, China should again be thrown into chaos with the

[The reply to this letter is withheld.]

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