Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 766

CHINA

By a revolution, the origin and progress of which will be found described in the following pages, China, after being under Manchu rule for 260 years, became a Republic in 1912. The Abdication Edict in which the infant Emperor was represented as saying that his military and other advisers had advised him to "speedily adopt the Republican form of Government to avoid further bloodshed" was published in February, but Sun Yat Sen, the Republican leader, who was appointed President of the Republic by the Provisional Government set up at Nanking, had on January 5th proclaimed to all friendly nations "the overthrow of the despotic sway of the Manchu dynasty and the establishment of a republic." Upon the restoration of peace following the abdication of the Throne, Dr. Sun Yat Sen resigned the Presidency in favour of Yuan Shih-kai on receiving from him satisfactory assurances regarding his political views in support of the Republic. In recommending the National Assembly to elect Yuan Shih-kai (who had up to then been the "one strong man" of the Imperial party), Dr. Sun Yat-sen said: "The abdication of the Ch'ing Emperor and the Union of the North and South are largely due to the great exertions of Mr. Yuan. Moreover, he has declared his unconditional adhesion to the national cause. Should he be elected to serve the Republic, he would surely prove himself a most loyal servant of the State. Besides, Mr. Yuan is a man of political experience, upon whose constructive ability our united nation looks forward for the consolidation of its interests." Yuan Shili Kai was un- animously elected and Sun Yat-sen retired from politics to devote his energies to economic projects.

The Bourds of Government or Ministries remain as they were reconstituted in 1906, when the first steps were taken towards constitutional Government and a reform of the official system. They are as follows:-(1) The Wai Wu Pu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (2) Li PuMinistry of Civil Appointments; (3) Min Cheng Pu, Ministry of the Interior; (4) Chih Tu Pu, Ministry of Finance; (5) Li PuMinistry of Rites and Ceremonies; (6) Hsueh Pu, Ministry of Education; (7) Lu Chuen Pu, Ministry of War; (8) Hai Chuen Pu, Ministry of Marine; (9) Fa Pu, Ministry of Justice; (10 Nung Kung Shang Pu, Ministry of Agriculture, Works and Commerce; (11) Yu Ch'uan Pu, Ministry of Posts and Communications; and (12) Li Fou Pu, Ministry of Outer Dependencies. Provincial Councils were established in October, 1909, and a National Assembly came into existence on October 3rd, 1910. Their duties are purely consultative, the actual government remaining in the hands of the officials. The intention had been to grant a full Parliament of two chambers in 1917, the intervening years being devoted to preparations for the change; but in response to repeated memorials from the Provincial Councils, supported finally by a unanimous vote of the National Assembly, the Throne shortened the period by four years. The full Parliament will therefore come into existence in the present year (1913). The whole constitutional plan is apparently to be modelled on the Japanese system.

The amount of the public revenue of China is not known, and estimates concerning it vary greatly. The Imperial Maritime Customs receipts form the only item upon which exact figures are obtainable, and these for the year 1911 amounted to Tls. 36,179,825. A statement officially published in May, 1912, showed an estimated revenue of Tls. 296,962,721 for the year, made up as follows:-Land taxes Tls. 46,164,709; Salt Tls. 46,312,355; Maritime Customs Tls. 35,139,917; Native Customs Tls. 6,900,845; Miscellaneous Taxes Tls. 36,163,842; Likin 43,187,907; Income from Official Property Tls. 36,600,×99; Sundry Receipts Tls. 19,194,101. This gives a total ordinary revenue of Tls. 269,754,579. An extraordinary revenue from various sources is estimated to the extent of Tls. 27,208,721. With the significant exception of the Maritime Customs, which is under foreign control, no item of revenue shows any elasticity. The Land Tax, Salt Revenue, Lekin or Native Customs, where they are still under native control, are all about the same figures as they were ten years ago, although it is a matter of common notoriety that these sources of revenue have increased indefinitely. Many modifications were decided upon in 1901 in the fiscal plans

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