Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 608

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CHINA

Vice-President Feng Kuo-chang came from Nanking and assunied office as acting Presi-, dent. When it became known that the Government declined to reconvoke Parliament, the Kuomingtang 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 memorialised the President in favour of the reconvocation of Parliament and a settlement with the South. As these leaders were under the control of Feng Kuo-chang 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, and resigned again, this time finally. The President found that it was not easy to obtain a successor, but ultimately Wang Shih-cheng 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, neutral 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.

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-called the "Tuchuns"" or "Bogus Parliament-in Peking in August, and two months later this body practically unanimously elected Hsu Shih-chang President, than whom it was believed no one was better suited to reunite the country. His labours, however, towards reconcilation did not prove to be 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 Military 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.

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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.

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.