Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 401

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CHINA

A19

hostilities commenced on a hundred-mile front which stretched from Machang to Changsintien, 18 miles below Peking. The fighting only lasted a week, Wu Pei-fu's men routing the Fengtien troops completely. Chiang Tso-lin afterwards made a stand in the vicinity of Shan-hai-kwan, but finally retired with the remnant of his army in 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 made to secure the return to Peking of all the M.Ps. who were dismissed in 1917 and a date was fixed-August 1st-for the reconvocation of Parliament. The President soon had 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 subunit 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 Tientsn, 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. In September, 1924, a war broke out between the provinces of Chekiang and Kiangsu, which led to the long-impending conflict between Wu Pei-fu and Chang Tso-lin, who entered the lists for the ostensible purpose of supporting the claims of their respective partisans. A very sanguinary battle was fought at Shanhai- kwan, in which the forces of Wu Pei-fu were badly defeated owing to the defection of Feng Yu-hsiang, "the Christian General," who commanded a large portion of Wu's army, which had been assigned to prevent Chang's march on the capital by way of Jehol. Instead of proceeding to Jehol, Feng waited until Wu had left Peking for the ront and then turned back and seized the capital, without resistance, announcing that his action was taken in concert with Chang Tso-lin and a number of other military and civil leaders and was dictated by a desire to end the war, Chang Tso-lin speedily pushed on to Tientsin and easily became master of the situation in that vicinity. The Cabinet at Peking immediately resigned en bloc and Feng appointed another to take its place. Within

Within a few days of this change he evicted the Manchu ex Emperor from the Summer Palace, took possession, of the whole of the Forbidden

·City, and repudiated the Abdication agreement. This action, however, was strongly condemned by Tuan Chi-jui, who had been designated as the provisional Chief Execu- tive at the invitation of Chang Tso-lin with the approval of the majority of the governing classes of China, including Wu Pei-fu and Sun Yat-sen, pending the establish- ment of a new form of constitutional government. The restrictions placed upon the ex-Emperor's movements being withdrawn, he sought and obtained sanctuary in the Japanese Legation.

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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