Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 375

CHINA

China-by a revolution, the origin and progress of which will be found described in the following pages-decided in 1912 to adopt the Republican form of government. Sun Yat Sen, the Republican leader who was appointed first President of the Republic by the Provisional Government set up at Nanking, resigned the Presidency in favour of Vuan Shih-kai on receiving from him satisfactory assurances regarding his political

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Editor of "The Directory & Chronicle of the Far East” wishes to acknowledge the use freely made in these introductions of the

of the excellent Report for 1938 on the Foreign Trade of China · by Mr. J. M. H. Osborne, the officiating Statistical Secretary of the Chinese Maritime

of Customs.

T

serious business of the legislature. Very frequently one mouse or ine ouer was unable to sit because a quorum of members had not put in an appearance. Hostility towards the President found further expression in a new revolution, which broke out in the province of Kiangsi and extended southward to Kwangtung, involving some fighting at Shanghai, Nanking and a few other points in the Yangtsze Valley, the avowed purpose of the revolution being to organise an expedition "to punish Yuan Shih-kai." Within a couple of months this movement was effectually suppressed by the Central Government, and the leading spirits of the revolution fled the country. Among the refugees was Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Thereupon the President and his Cabinet showed a greater determination to secure more effective control over the provinces. The first thing to be done was to confirm the President in his office, and Parliament, evidently impressed by the confidence the country had shown in him during the late troubles, elected him President of the Republic for the next five years, and Li Yuan-hung, who since the first Revolution had remained in command of the troops at Wuchang, was elected Vice-President. Hardly a month had elapsed since his election before the

Page 375Page 376

Northern

Ports