Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 646

584

CHINA

stand in the vicinity of Shan-hai-kwan, but finally retired with the remnant of his army to his Manchurian fastnesses and succeeded in regaining his influence over the Three Eastern Provinces.

The war had the effect of changing the political outlook completely. The return to Constitutionalism was heralded. Hsu Shih-chang retired from the Presidency on June 11th, 1922, and Li Yuan-hung was persuaded the following day to become acting President, on receiving definite assurances from the military powers that they would support his demands for "sweeping reforms" in the Chinese Army. These reforms included the disbandment of superfluous troops and "an absolute abolition of the Tuchunate system" as the "key to a thorough organisation of the country's finances."

A great effort was inade to secure the return to Peking of all the M.Ps. who were dismissed in 1917 and a date was fixed-August Ist-for the reconvocation of Parliament. The President soon bad occasion to complain that the war lords had totally ignored their pledges to himself and the country. Twice, at least, he declared publicly that he would not submit to their dictation, which manifested itself over the appointment of provincial officials and brought about the resignation of two Cabinets as a protest. Yet, despite his brave words, Li Yuan Hung submitted. Finally, in June, 1923, he fled from Peking to the British Concession at Tientsin, though still claiming to be President. For some months after that the Cabinet continued the administration, until on October 5th Marshal Tsao Kun was elected Chief Executive by an overwhelming majority of the Electoral College, the necessary quorum being obtained, it is said, by bribery. At the same time the New Constitution was com- pleted and approved. Its provisions will be found in the Treaty Section of this volume. China unsuccessfully appealed to the Paris Conference in 1919 to restore to her Kiaochow and Germany's other rights in Shantung, claimed by Japan under the Sino-Japanese. Treaty of 1915. By way of protest, the Chinese delegates refused to sign the Peace Treaty with Germany, and a boycott of Japanese goods was organised by the students in China. The appeal was renewed in 1921 at the Washington Conference, the outcome of which was the Shantung Treaty whereby the former German-leased Territory of Kiaochow was restored to China. Other points in the treaty, which is of a comprehensive description, are: Japan undertook to transfer to China all public properties, including land, buildings, works or establishments, in Kiaochow. whether formerly possessed by the German authorities or purchased or constructed by Japan. with certain exceptions; Japan undertook to withdraw her troops on the Tsingtao-Tsinan Railway; Japan undertook to transfer to China the Tsingtao-Tsinan Railway and its branches, "together with all other properties appurtenant thereto," on receiving payment from China; Japan undertook to transfer the mines at Tsechwan, Fangtze, and Chinlingchen to a company in which the capital would be shared in equal proportions by Japanese and Chinese. The Shantung Commission, to give effect to these provisions, was convened at the conclusion of the Washington Conference. It met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peking, Dr. C. T. Wang being the chairman of the Chinese Commissioners, and Mr. Yukio Obata, the Minister of Japan to China, being the chairman of the Japanese Commissioners. settlement was reached early in December, the terms of which will be found in the Treaty section of this volume.

A

Other results of the Washington Conference which have a special bearing on China were the Nine-Power Treaty, the Chinese Tariff Treaty, and the resolution regarding the withdrawal of foreign Postal agencies in China.

The Nine-Power Treaty, signed by the United States, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal, was intended to give effect to "a policy designed to stabilise conditions in the Far East, to safeguard the rights and interests of China, and to promote intercourse between China and the other Powers upon the basis of equality of opportunity." Briefly, the covenant seeks to end for all time the pursuit by interested Powers of "spheres of influence" and reaffirms the Hay principle of the Open Door and equal opportunity for the trade and commerce of the world in China. China, on her part, agreed not to alienate any part of her Territory to any foreign Power. A clause to which the Chinese attach much significance is that which provides for the registration and consequent publicity of all treaties and agreements between China and the other Powers and all contracts and agreements between China and private individuals and corporations of foreign countries.

The Tariff Treaty was the result of a resolution passed by the Powers participating in the Washington Conference authorising the revision of China's import tariff, "so that the rates shall be equivalent to 5 per cent. effective, as provided for in the several