Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 680

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CHINA

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himself it became obvious that the President was intriguing against the Premier, who promptly resigned, then reconsidered his decision at the request of the President, resigned again, this time finally. The President found that it was not easy to obtain a successor, but ultimately Wang Shih-chen was induced to become Premier and to form a Cabinet. Feng Kuo-chang's ideas on the subject of compromise with the South did not commend themselves to the Northern Tuchuns, who took the bit between their teeth and declared that they would carry on the war themselves, a course which com- pelled the President to identify himself with them and to make their action official.

The year 1917 was also noteworthy for the disastrous floods which devastated huge areas in the north of China and caused widespread misery and distress. In Chihli alone three million people were in receipt of relief. Another important event was the decision of the Powers to sanction the revision of China's import tariff, the details of which were negotiated by commissioners representing the Entente, neutial countries and China, and completed the following year.

1918 opened with an abortive attempt by President Feng Kuo-chang to bring about peace by mandate. He ordered the cessation of hostilities. Unfortunately, the Southerners did not accept the olive branch, and by the spring had advanced their armies almost to Hankow and had obtained control also of Sze- chuan. Tuan Chi-jui was brought back to the Premiership, money was borrowed extravagantly and recklessly, and the campaign against the South was resumed with such vigour that Yochow and Changsha were recovered and the Government troops reached almost to the borders of Kwangtung. Then the rot set in. For several reasons the offensive was not maintained. Perhaps the real explanation was the intriguing of the President with the South. Whatever the actual cause, there was little or no fight- ing during the summer. The great heat was the official excuse. Then Feng Yu-hsiang, a northern commander, perturbed the military authorities in Peking by his independent attitude on the Yangtsze. Having been stripped of his honours, he repented and proceeded to the "front" to achieve merit. Soon afterwards Wu Pei-fu, General Tsao Kun's lieutenant, developed into a pacifist. He memorialised the Government in favour of peace. He was repudiated by his superior, but it was felt that he had the support of President Feng Kuo-chang. Matters drifted for some months until the assembly of Parliament in Peking in August and two months later this body practically unanim- ously elected Hsu Shih-chang President, than whom it was believed no one was better suited to reunite the country. His labours, however, towards reconcilation have not proved very successful, although foreign advice assisted the President, inasmuch as it alarmed the northern tuchuns who looked at one time as if they were again going to take charge of affairs. The Peking Government and the Canton Mili- tary Government agreed to meet in conference, in Shanghai, to arrange a basis for peace. 1919 is the history of the failure of this conference, each side alleging that the other was insincere. Upon the overthrow of the Kwangsi party by the Cantonese party in Kwangtung towards the end of 1920, the President issued a mandate pro- claiming the restoration of peace and the unification of the country. This mandate, however, was repudiated by Sun Yat-sen, Wu Ting-fang and other leaders of the Constitutional party, who proceeded to Canton, where they re-established the Military Government and, in the early part of 1921, Dr. Sun was elected by his followers at Canton " President of China," although at that time his authority did not extend beyond the province of Kwangtung. Later in the year a successful expedition was launched against General Luk Wing-ting and his followers, who were obliged to relinquish their hold on Kwangsi. Encouraged by this, Dr. Sun towards the end of the year, initiated a campaign for the conquest of the North.

Important political changes took place in the North during 1920, the Chihli forces, under Chang Tso-lin, marching on Peking and, after some fighting, putting to flight the leaders of the Anfu party who were directing the Government. This step was followed by the reconstruction of the Cabinet. Hostilities took place throughout 1921 in the upper Yangtsze region, arising out of a provincial independence movement in the province of Hunan that extended to the province of Hupeh. A Northern force, under General Wu Pei-fu, was despatched to Hupeh and drove out the invaders, whose territory, in turn, was threatened, unless they abandoned their attitude of revolt. the warfare inuch damage was done to foreign property at Ichang, and it was necessary for foreign warships to intervene actively for its protection.

In

During 1918 a Bolshevik threat emanated from Siberia, but it was met by Allied intervention. Japan furnished a considerable proportion of the troops and found it necessary to take military measures in Manchuria which were not altogether pleasing to China.