Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 633

CHINA

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of the Reform movement in China. Yuan showed no eagerness to take the position of Generalissimo and Viceroy of Hupeh, but, after a month's consideration, went to Peking, presumably satisfied that all the authority and help he required to deal with the isituation would be given to the operations. By Imperial Edict he was appointed Premier. Yuan asked for this appointment to be endorsed by the National Assembly, and this was done unanimously. Meanwhile the advance on Hankow had been begun, and on October 29th General Yin Chang reported that the native city of Han- kow had been taken by the Imperial army. The Imperialist Commander-in-chief deemed it necessary to the success of his plans that the entire city should be de- stroyed by fire, and consequently some 700,000 persons were rendered homeless. After desperate fighting the "Wu Han towns" were re-taken by the Imperialists. There was severe fighting also at Nanking before it capitulated to the Revolutionaries, and became the seat of the Republican Government. After the Imperialist success at Hankow there were overtures for peace, and negotiations were opened at Shanghai on December 18th between Wu Ting Fang, as the representative of the Revolutionaries, and Tang Shao-yi, as the envoy of the Imperial Government; but the conference came to an end almost as soon as it opened, because on behalf of the Revolutionaries the abolition of the monarchy was insisted upon as the basis of negotia- tion. This was firmly opposed by Yuan Shih-kai, but on December 28th the Throne announced that it was prepared to leave the question of the future constitution of China to the decision of a national convention. That was the position at the end of the year. Meanwhile Prince Chun had resigned the regency, and by Imperial Decrees the monarchy had been made a limited monarchy on British lines. The Republican con vention had elected Sun Yat Sen as President of the Republican Military Government, and upon his installation at Nanking on January 1st, 1912, he appointed a Ministry and issued an appeal to the Powers to recognise the Republican Government. Terms of abdication were offered to the Court at Peping, and Yuan Shih-kai was invited to assume the position of Provisional President of the Republic. After many Palace conferences à Decree of abdication was issued by the infant Emperor, as having been respectfully received from her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager Lung Yu. The terms of abdication provided that the Emperor may retain the title of Emperor of Ta Ching and shal be treated in accordance with the etiquette which would govern relations with a foreign monarch on Chinese soil. An annuity of four million taels is payable to him, and His Majesty was per- mitted to continue in occupation of the Palaces in the Forbidden City until the Summer Palace should be ready for him. The nation undertook to maintain the tombs of the Imperial dead. In due course Dr. Sun Yat-sen resigned the Presidency in favour of Yuan Shih-kai, who was practically unanimously appointed by the National Assembly at Nanking. It was expected of him that he would journey to Nanking to be installed; but after much discussion this ceremony was performed in Peking. The ambition of the Republicans was to make Nanking the capital of China, but there was mucli opposition to the proposal, and Peping continued to be the seat of government. Early in 1913 the National Assembly gave place to a Parliament of two Houses, and after the abortive second revolution, against what was regarded as dictatorship by Yuan Shih- kai, the "provisional" Government was brought to an end by Parliament duly electing Yuan Shih-kai as President of the Republic for a period of five years, with General Li Yuan-hung as Vice-President. The year 1913 closed with Parliament suspended, owing to a mandate by the President cancelling the seats of over 300 members for treasonable conspiracy, and, pending a new election, an "Administrative Conference, representative of the whole of the provinces. was formed to consider a number of legislative projects including a revision of the law.

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This was succeeded in 1914 by the creation of the Tsan Cheng-Yuan or State Council composed of men of official and administrative experience, mostly, of course, of the old school. The year was notable for the operations of a notorious robber chief, known as the White Wolf, who commanded a large following, and for months terrorised almost the whole of mid-China. The marauding band traversed several Provinces, plundered cities and laid waste whole districts. The chief defied all the efforts of the Military for quite a long time, but was ultimately killed and his followers dispersed. This was not the only misfortune in that year, for floods greater than had been known in China for fifty years devastated Kwangtung and took a heavy toll of life. Similar disasters occurred in the North, causing many deaths and much damage to property. Though not actively participating in the European War, China suffered very severely in consequence of the outbreak of hostilities. Not only was her foreign trade dislocated, but the money markets of Europe, from which she expected