Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 661

CHINA

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A very serious famine, involving some thirty million people in suffering, occurred in the North-principally in the provinces of Honan, Shantung, and Chihli-in 1920 owing to drought and the consequent failure of the crops. For the relief of the distress thus caused, a surtax of ten per cent. on Customs Import duties was agreed to by the Powers for the period of twelve months and this took effect in 1921. This famine also brought into existence international famine relief committees who initiated constructive schemes for the relief of the sufferers. Much good work in connection with conservancy was done by this means. The American Red Cross was also active. Its report dated June 30th, 1921, shewed that under its auspices 985 miles of road had been laid out and 648 miles completed. Most of these organisations maintained their work throughout 1921, when China was visited by floods.

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Upon the overthrow of the Kwangsi party by the Cantonese party in Kwang- tung towards the end of 1920, the President issued a mandate proclaiming 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 Consti- tutional 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-formerly the chief commander of the military forces supporting the Constitutionalist cause in South China-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. This much advertised "punitive" expedition, however, beyond embroiling Kiangsi in internecine warfare during the summer of 1922, never got within a thousand miles of Peking. Dr. Sun gradually declined in influence, and in 1922 his relations with his principal lieutenant, General Chen Chiung-ming, the Military Governor of Kwangtung Province, steadily cooled until the latter, exasperated by Sun Yat-sen's follies (his military agreement with Chang Tso-lin being the most noteworthy) turned on him and caused his flight from Canton in a British warship (H.M.S. Moorhen) in June, 1922. Gen. Chen's ascendancy, however, was short-lived. With the aid of Kwangsi and Yunnanese forces, Sun Yat-sen regained control of the Province in the Spring of 1923, and forced his former lieutenant to withdraw to his native city of Weichow, whence, however, he was unable to dislodge him. From time to time, reports were circulated that the city had been taken, but these proved to be false, and towards the end of the year Chen's troops were threatening Canton. In the meantime Sun's régime had become unpopular with all classes in Canton owing to the conscrip- tion both of labour and of wealth to meet its military needs. In December an Allied Naval force assembled in the Canton River in consequence of a threat by Dr. Sun to seize the Customs revenue of Kwangtung so that it should not be used to finance Northern operations against him. This difficulty solved itself by the announcement made by the Inspector-General of Customs that there was no surplus revenue to dispose of. Dr. Sun remained in control of Canton until October, 1924, when the Merchants Volunteers' revolt against extortionate taxation and confiscation led to a serious armed conflict in the streets of the City and to the destruction by fire of a large portion of the business section in the western suburb of Saikwan, as described at greater length in the Canton section of this volume. The war between Wu Pei-fu and Chang Tso-lin in the north provided Sun with a welcome pretext for leaving a region where he was beset by constantly increasing embarrassments.

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 much damage was done to foreign property at Ichang, and it was necessary for foreign warships to intervene actively for its protection. During the winter months of 1921-1922 there was much political trouble in Peking, both d the Manchurian Tuchun, General Chang Tso-lin, and Wu Pei-fu dictating to the of Government what it should do. Affairs worked up to a crisis when Liang Shih-yi was made Premier on Christinas Day, 1921, and Wu Pei-fu became exceedingly 31 wrathful with the new Administration. Chang Tso-lin replied to Wu Pei-fu's threats

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