New-York tribune., 1911-12-03
pEKING CLOSE TO BLooDsHED.

The advent Of this officer and his men
brought Peking closer to bloodshed than
il has yet been. for the government al
first determined to oppose his entry 10
the CITY. His command could have quick
Iv been wiped out. but the trouble that
would have followed would have been
most serious, for it is almost certain
that the other troops would have de-
scended upon the capital.
Were the situation less serious the
haste of the throne to grant the demand
made would seem ludicrous. An edict
was at once forthcoming granting the
assembly power to make the constltu-
tion. The assembly took advantage OF
its opportunity with marvellous speed.
The body was in session on the day
the edict MAS promulgated. In fact its
first public announcement was made dl-
rectlv TO the assembly. This was on the
afternoon Of November >. Immediately
the assembly dropped all other matters
TO consider the matter Of the constitu-
ton. At some ones suggestion a recess
was taken. In half an hour the body re-
convened and shortly thereafter in the
single afternoon, adopted nineteen arti-
cles which should form the basis of the
constitution. and the next day, within
less than twenty-four hours altogether.
China had her constitution. These are
the nineteen demands made upon the
throne:
First-Thc Ia Ching dynasty shall
reign forever.
second-The person of the Emperor
shall be sacred
Third-The power Of the Emperor
shall be limited by the constitution.
Fourth-The law of succession i'm the
imperial family will be fixed by Parlia-
ment.
Fifth-The power Of amending the
constitution shall belong to Parliament
only.
Sixth-The constitution will be drawn
mp by the National Assembly and
promulgated by the throne.
Seventh-The upper house of Parlia-
snent will be composed of men of GER
tain rank and standing as will be de-
termined later.
Eighth-The Premier shall he elected
by the Parliament and appointed by the
throne The Ministers of State are 10
lf Stlttltu ny lllt IItiIlltI anu tppplll-
ed by the throne. Members of the inn
peral clan shall be ineligible for APP
pointmont TO the Cabinet, or To serve as
Ministers Of State or to hold the higher
Offices i'm the provincial administration.
Ninth-The Parliament may impeach
the Premier. In that case either the
Cabinet will resign or the Parliament
will be dissolved, but the same Cabinet
may not dissolve Parliament more than
once.
Tcnth--The naval and military forces
of the empire shall be under the SUI
preme command of the Emperor. but
when these forces are used within the
empire they will act under special regu-
lations to be drawn up by the Parlia-
meut ana they may not be employed
except i'm conformity with the said reg
ulations.
Observation-Disclosures DEGREES Of the
Emperor shall not have the force of law.
Imperial decrecS must bc TO carry into
execution the laws, or must be i'm con
formity With responsibilities conferred
by law. except in time of special danger.
which will Ice provided for in special
regulations to be drawn up.
international treaties must
bo approved by Parliament before they
can be- concluded. except treaties of
peace or declarations Of war at times
WHOM Parliament IS not i'm session. I'm
such cases the consent Of Parliament
must be obtained later
Thirtccnth--Ohicial appointments and
the rules of official service will be fixed
by law.
Fourtconth-Bc Before the Parliament has
approved the budget for any year no
disbursements may be made on the
basis of the previous years budget. In
the budget shall not be included any
items previously determined. No extraor-
amounts fixed by the budget will be al
lowed.
Ffteenth-The allowances for the ex-
penses Of the imperial household and
any increase or diminution OF the same
shall be determined by Parliament
SiXteentl--No imperial regulations
shall remain In force which are opposed
10 constitutional requirements.
ScNenteenth-The machinery of the
courts ot law shall be arranged by the
Two houses OF Parliament
Eighteenth All bills passed 10y Par
lament shall be promulgated by the
Emperor.
Nineteenth Before the convening of
Parliament. Articles S. O. 10. IL. 10. 10
and is will be put IN force as applying
TO the National Assembly.
The throne granted everything with
out change in the following picturesque
cdict:
The TIu,ChcnG Yuan has presented a
memori2l suggesting the adoption Of the