Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 378

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CHINA

President startled the country by the issue of a mandate ordering the expulsion from Parliament of all members who had been identified with the Kuomingtang, the political party which had promoted the abortive revolution. This order was instantly obeyed, and the result of it was that Parliament was unable to sit for the remainder of the year, as without some of these members it was impossible to form a quorum in either House. Altogether 313 members were expelled, and the party was suppressed as a seditious organisation throughout the country. Notwithstanding these drastic measures the President continued to proclaim his faith in the future of China under a Republican form of government. His views were aptly summed up in his own phrase: "The nurse must not provide the infant with food only fit for adults." Thus it was that China became for a period of two years an autocracy under the guise of a Republic. A State Council, consisting of 70 members, replaced the suppressed Parliament. It was supposed to act as an advisory, administrative and legislative, organ until the formation of the new Parliament under the Constitutional Compact, but its chief function was to give a veneer of legality to the policy of the President. All it did was to endorse his every action, even to the mad Monarchy Move-

ment.

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The sudden death of Yuan Shih-kai and the collapse of the ill-starred attempt to restore the monarchical form of Government revived Republicanism. Li Yuan-hung, on the death of Yuan Shih-kai, quietly became President. He was officially confirmed in the appointment by a re-assembly of the first Parlia ment. The Cabinet was soon afterwards approved by Parliament, and a con- stitution was drafted which was disliked by the Premier and the military chiefs by reason of the fact that it placed all authority in the hands of Par- liament. This led to a rupture which resulted in Li Yuan-hung being com- pelled to dissolve Parliament at the instigation of the militarists. Then fol- lowed, in 1916, Chang Hsun's mad attempt to restore the Manchu Dynasty. He was over-thrown by Marshal Tuan Chi-jui after which Feng Kuo-chaug, the Vice-President assumed the Presidency as Li Yuan-hung declined to com- plete his term. The second election of a President took place in October, 1918, when Hsu Shih-chang was unanimously chosen. He retired in June, 1922, and Li Yuan-hung was induced to return as acting President by promises of support for his programme of reform from the Tuchuns. Twelve months later, however, he fled from Peking owing to pressure exerted by the militarists. He was succeeded by Marshal Tsao Kun, who was elected on October 5th, 1923, by a Parliament, the members of which were openly bribed to vote for him. He was driven out of the Presidential chair in November, 1923, on the collapse of Wu Pei-fu's forces, owing to the defection of Feng Yu-hsiang, who utilised his troops to seize the capital instead of marching to Jehol to outflank the forces of Chang Tso-lin. Tuan Chi-jui was then invited by most of the leading military and civil leaders to become the Provisional Chief Executive and accepted. For the next. three years there was no Government worthy of the name in China. Marshal Chang Tso-lin was virtual dictator in Peping, hut North and South were at war and the whole country was in a state of chaos owing to the rival claims of many military leaders. In June, 1928, Peiping was captured by the Nationalists, and in October on the anniversary of the Revolution Chiang Kai-shek was proclained President of the Republic. In January, 1929, the Nationalist flag was hoisted at Mukden and other important centres, signifying that the Northerners had at last decided to co-operate with their former enemies in the South. Nanking is now the capital of China.

AREA AND POPULATION

China proper, extending over 1,335,841 square miles, is divided into eighteen provinces. Considerable trouble and care has been taken by the Postal Administration to obtain an estimate of the population of China. Recourse was had to the assistance of the provincial officials, which in most cases was willingly 'accorded. Below is given a close approximation to actual figures, The footnote will show the limitations that have so far been imposed to a full record of the outlying districts:-