CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 378

65C

376

6.

such claims are based on the measure of control exercised

by the former over the country.

7.

་

In the first place it must be borne in mind that

the authority of the Peking Goverment does not arise from

its own power, which scarcely extends beyond the walls of

the metropolis, but from that of the provincial military

chiefs who support it, or in some cases rule in its name.

Foremost amongst these are of course Tsao Kun and his

supporters of the Chihli Farty and Wu P'ei-fu and his

following, who together control the Northern block of four

provinces, Chihli, Shantung, Fonan, and Tupei. The North

Western Provinces, Sansi, Shensi, and Kansu, stand to a

great extent aside from the present nolitical dessensions,

but may be regarded as nominally recognising the authority

of Peking. Kiangsu, (excluding Shanghai), under its power-

ful Military Governor, Ch'i sich-yuan, is in alliance with

the hihli Party and therefore supports Peking, while the

attitude of Anhui, though more doubtful, is at present out-

wardly the same. All the nine Northern provinces between

the Yangtze and the Great 'all thus recognise the Peking

Aame

Government in end at least; while the Chirli Party, and

Aherefore