Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 595

CHINA

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tion with the military leaders assembled at that port. Li Ching-shi, the newly appointed Premier, travelled with Chang Hsun to Peking. Prior to the arrival of the mediator the President had shown much vaccilation, to one declaring that he would not dissolve Parliament, and to another hinting that he might have recourse to this drastic step in order to save the country. Peking, too, was in a state of consterna- tion over the arrival of Chang Hsun's warriors, whose barbaric reputation was kept in the liveliest recollection by the peace-loving citizens. For a time the President was torn between two opinions, and even his advisers did not afford him the consola- tion that he sought, for while Dr. Morrison, the British Adviser, pleaded with him for the maintenance of constitutionalism, and the preservation of parliament, Dr. Ariaga, the Japanese Adviser argued that as Parliament had been illegally constituted there was legal basis for the President to dissolve it, since it had not justified its existence. However, Chang Hsun forced a decision. He presented what was virtually an ultimatum to the President, embracing the retention of the President, the dissolution of Parliament, the establishment of a responsible Parliament, the dissolution of Provincial assemblies, etc. He declared that unless these demands were acceded to he would not be responsible for what would happen. Dr. Wu Ting - fang

and other constitutionalists endeavoured to resist the pressure being brought to bear upon the President, but without avail, and on June 13th, as demanded by Chang Hsun, the mandate was issued dissolving Parliament. As was to be expected, the Southern Provinces were not slow in indicating their disapproval of the President's weak action and denunciations came from Yunnan, Kwangtung, Kwangsi, and Szechuan. At one time it looked as if the Southern Provinces would initiate military action and the Northern Tuchuns prepared for resistance. For the next two or three weeks matters were in a state of drift, but a dramatic climax was reached on July 1st, when the people of China were electrified to learn that in the early hours of that morning the young Manchu Emperor had been enthroned at the behest of the all- powerful Chang Hsun. Everywhere in Peking the dragon flag was in evidence, but it required little knowledge to appreciate the fact that the demonstration was not a spontaneous one, but was made to order by the servile police. It is astonishing how Chang Hsun with his bodyguard of less than five thousand troops was able to dominate the capital, where there was garrisoned troops more than five times that number. Imperial edicts countersigned by Chang Hsun were issued in the name of the Emperor proclaiming the re-establishment of the dynasty, the appointment of Councillors and Ministers, promising the remission of taxes, etc. etc. Chang Hsun evidently thought he could carry the country with him if he carried Peking, but he forgot that the days were long gone past when the fate of the capital decided the fate of the country. His high-handed action roused the alarm of all the other military leaders and in fact for a time united the nation. Tuan Chu-jui immediately placed himself at the head of the mili- tary movement against Chang Hsun, and within a few days troops from all directions were marching upen Peking. The Dictator's forces made a feeble attempt to resist the advance from Tientsin and retired in disorder upon the Temple of Heaven. Though surrounded, Chang Hsun declined to surrender. All attempts to compromise failed and on the morning of 12th July the farcical battle of Peking was fought. The Republican artillery made good practice and, firing over the Legation Quarter, soon had Chang Hsun's headquarters within the Imperial city in flaines. Meanwhile his men within the Templo of Heaven enclosure were putting up some semblance of a fight, but by noon it became obvious that hostilities would not be prolonged. This force agreed to surrender on condition that each member received three months' pay, while the other force within the Imperial city melted away. The total military casualities were estimated at about forty, but of course the number of civilians killed or injured was greater. Chang Hsun escaped from the Imperial city in a motor car and found an asylum in the Dutch Lega- tion where he remained interned as a political refugee for more than a year. A demand for his extradition on the part of the Government was not entertained." Thus ended the twelve days of midsummer madness.

Tuan Chi-jui, hailed as the saviour of the country, reorganised the government which once more became republican in name and pledged to republican institutions, thus depriving his opponents of their stock argument that he was anti-republican. President Li, after his many mistakes, resigned from the Presidency, and, in due course, Vice-President Feng Kuo-chang came from Nanking and assumed office acting President. When it became known that the Government declined to reconvoke Parliament, the Koumingtang leaders moved to Canton and formed a so-called parliament which formally declared war on Germany. In November, the Tuchuns of Kiangsi, Kiangsu and Hupeh menorialised the President in favour of the reconvocation of Parliament and