Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 771

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 hal up to then been the "one strong man" of the Imperial party), Dr. Sun Yat-sen said: "The abdication of the Ching 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 Shih Kai was un- animously elected and Sun Yat-sen retired from politics to devote his energies to economic projects, and especially to the development of a scheme for covering the country with a network of railways. Yuan Shih-kai continued to serve as "Provisional President" until October 10th, 1913, when, the two Houses of Parliament having in the meantime been set up, he was duly inaugurated.

The Boards of Government or Ministries remain with some few changes, 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 Chao Pu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (2) Ñei Wu Pu, Ministry of the Interior: (3) Lu Chuen Pu, Ministry of War; (4) Hai Chuen Pu, Ministry of the Navy; (5) Chiao Yu Pu, Ministry of Education; (6) Szu Fa Pu, Ministry of Justice; (7) Kung Shang Pu, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; (8) Nung Lin Pu, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; (9) Chiao Tung Pu, Ministry of Posts and Communications; and (10) Tsai Cheng Pu. Ministry of Finance. Provincial Councils were established in October, 1909, and a National Assembly came into existence on October 3rd, 1910. Their duties were 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 memo- rials from the Provincial Councils, supported finally by a unanimous vote of the National Assembly, the Throne shortened the period by four years. The full Parlia- ment therefore came into existence in 1913, being inaugurated on April 8th. The senate consists of 274 members and the House of Representatives of 596. Both Chambers were dominated by an ultra-Republican majority, which showed an attitude of hostility to the President from the outset. The President did not attend the inaugura- tion of the Parliament, because, so it was reported, it had been intimated on behalf of the predominant party that he would be welcomed only as a spectator, and the Chambers went so far in their discourtesy as to refuse to allow his Chief Secretary to read to the House a Message congratulating the Parliament upon its inauguration. After spending two or three months on framing rules for the Parliament, the members by a majority voted themselves a yearly salary of $1,000 each. The proceedings of both Houses during 1913 were distinguished by violent attacks on the policy of the President and his Cabinet, and by the languid interest shown in the serious business of the legislature. Very frequently one House or the other was unable to sit because a quorum of members had not put in an appearance. Hostility towards the President found further expression in a new revolution, which broke out in the province of Kiangsi and extended Southward to Kwangtung, involving some fighting at Shanghai, Nanking and a few other points in the Yangtse valley, the avowed purpose of the