New-York tribune., 1911-12-29

tive, 10 the peace conference.
rBy Gable 70 The Tribune.l
Picking. Dec est is difficult 70 ex-
oererate the feeling that China Is now
facing q chaotic and critical condition
involving not only its domestic rule put
its very future existence. a repuohc
seems an imminent possibility. as the
edict to-day amounts TO practical aodi-
cation and because Of the extreme ike
Iihood that the national convention Will
decide on a republic on account OF its
r,an,hers fearing to advocate any govern
ment otherwise.
There is every reason for the BELIEF
extant that the country Is incapable OK
maintaining a republic. and even now IN
the south the republicanists show ex-
treme dissenson and factionalism, thus
indicating accurately the possibilities OF
ensuing chaos and leading surely sooner
or later. to foreign Intervention and pos
sibly the partition Of the empire.
Yuan Shih-kai to-day offered to re-
sign. but his proposition was refused.
The complete lack OF funds makes con-
tinued fighting impossible. so the gov
ernment, therefore, will be forced 70
succumb to the rebel demands.
Many persons here consider the sue
cess of a republic grotesquely Impossible,
and the iactionalism within the rebel
ranks already indicates this.
shanghai Dec. 29-sun Yat-sens
election as President of the republic oE
the Nanking conference to-day means
that the peace conference between WI
! Ting-fang and Tang Shao-yi Is c'osed'
The President will assume charge OF all
negotiations.
The continuance of these negotiations
with Yuan Shh-kai as the representa-
tive of the retiring Manchu royalty VIII
depend entirely on the immediate WIN
drawal Of all the so-called Imperial
troops from all points OF contact WIN
the reyolutionaries Under these condl-
tions the armistice will be extended Tor
tan davs. 10 give President Sun time to
issue the terms under which the Manchus
must Law down their arms and to decide
on pensiOns and other preliminary de-
! tails
Tho President, or head Of the military
Government now tablished. with the
capital al Nanking, will treat the court
as a thing Of the past, because eighteen
provinces have already voted In faVor
of a republic in a properly constituted
convention. and the edict recently issued
az Peking says that ii representative
convention favors a republic the throne
will abdicate.
Picking. Dec. 2S-The assembly in the
palace to-day TO discuss affairs connect
cd with a settlement OF the revolution.
was productive of at least one dramatic
incident The Empress Dowager. ths
Premier. Yuan Shih-kai, and the princes
of the imperial clan were present, and
the debate waxed so warm that finally
Yuan Shih-kai arose and offered his res
ienation This, however, was refused
Premier Yuan explained 10 the princes
that he could continue the government
and retain the country north Of the
Yangtse only by having funds placed at
his disposal. He asked the princes TO
empower him TO obtain money. He ex-
nIained that SO. 600 would meet the
pavments for the soldiers for Ave
months. after which the south would
become disunited and province after
rrovince would return 10 their allegiance
To the throne.
Bur the princes were unmoVed. Tney
pleaded lack of money although most OF
them are very wealthy. None has given
any substantial amount 10 aid the gov
ernment. with the exception OF Prince
Ching. who has handed over more than
500. 900. The Dowager Empress wept.
and Yuan Shih- kai showed signs OF dis
trass Their he said that he could not
agreed 10 continue.
Win Try to Get Si0,0o0,000.
II is said tonight that Yuan intends
70 make another attempt To obtain
loan q SlO,Wp,Oe from the fOur Ma
tion" group, of which three of the coun-
tries signiled their willingness TO FUR
nist loan three weeks ago. England
declining to participate. The Premier
SAYS that he will not use the money for
a campaign of aggression. but will leave
the republican provinces TO consummate
their own destruction. only defending the
north bank OF the Yangtse when at
tackled He asserts that the rebels have
small resources and that their troops are
already engaged in plunderng.
Yuan Shih-kais appearance has
greatly since his arrival in Pc
king lie has aged materially and shows
the effects of the continued strain. He
SAYS that he does not understand the
republican form of government and
would not associate himself with II.
The throne agreed To Premier Yuan
Continued on fifth page.