Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 444

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CHINA

not justified its existence. However, Chang Hsun forced a decision. He presented what was virtually an ultimatum to the President, embracing the retention of the President, the dissolution of Parliament, the establishment of a responsible Parliament, the dissolution of Provincial assemblies, etc. He declared that unless these demands were acceded to he would not be responsible for what would happen. Dr. Wu Ting - fang

and other constitutionalists endeavoured to resist the pressure being brought to bear upon the President, but without avail, and on June 13th, as demanded by Chang Hsun, the mandate was issued dissolving Parliament- a mandate, by the way, which Wu Ting-fang refused to counter-sign.

As was to be expected, the Southern Provinces were not slow in indicating their disapproval of the President's weak action, and denunciations came from Yunnan, Kwangtung, Kwangsi, and Szechuan. At one time it looked as if the Southern Provinces would initiate military action and the Northern Tuchuns prepared for resistance. For the next two or three weeks matters were in a state of drift, but a dramatic climax was reached on July 1st, when the people of China were electrified to learn that in the early hours of that morning the young Manchu Emperor had been enthroned at the behest of the all- powerful Chang Hsun. Imperial edicts countersigned by Chang Hsun were issued in the name of the Emperor proclaiming the re-establishment of the dynasty, the appoint- ment of Councillors and Ministers, promising the remission of taxes, etc., etc. His high-handed action roused the alarm of all the other military leaders and, in fact for a time united the nation. Tuan Chi-jui immediately placed himself at the head of the mili- tary movement against Chang Hsun, and within a few days troops from all directions were marching upon Peiping. The Dictator's forces made a feeble attempt to resist the advance from Tientsin and retired in disorder upon the Temple of Heaven. Though surrounded, Chang Hsun declined to surrender. All attempts to compromise failed and on the morning of 12th July the farcical battle of Peking was fought. The total mili- tary casualities were estimated at about forty, but, of course, the number of civilians killed or injured was greater. Chang Hsun escaped from the Imperial city in a motor car and found an asylum in the Dutch Legation, where he remained interned as a political refugee for more than a year, being then pardoned.

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Tuan Chi-jui, hailed as the saviour of the country, reorganised the Government, which once more became republican in name and pledged to republican institutions, thus depriving his opponents of their stock argument that he was anti-republican. President Li, after his many mistakes, resigned from the Presidency, and, in due course, Vice-President Feng Kuo-chang came from Nanking and assumed 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 anp 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