New-York tribune., 1912-04-30
A PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Yuan Shih-kai Communicates His
Views to Senate at Peking.
FINANCE HIS CHIEF TOPIC
Points Out That Retention OF
China's External Friendships Is
Necessary to Her Existence.

Pekins, April 2e-Yuan Shih-kai Prssl
dent Of tn. Chinese Republic, delivered hi;
f1rst Presidential message IN the form OF
speech at the opening to-day Of the ses'
sion OF the Advisory Council, which is Vr-
tuslly a provisional Senate
The President proclaimed that the prln'
ciples OF the new Chinese government nluS'
b. the maintenance of order in the interior
the achievement Of progress and the reten
ton OF all external friendships, so necessary
10 the existence OF China.
The foreign powers IN recent years. ~
said. had adopted peaceful and Just ~
titude and had shown 2. desire for inc IN
terest Of China which calls for gratitude
The Chinese should learn TO understand arc
treat foreigners with friendship and can
dor and should rejoice over the estahush'
ment OF a republic after thousands OF years
Of despotsm.
Yuan Shih-Sal emphasized the necessity
Of forming & firm foundation on WnIch
10 base the policy Of progress. The most
important matter at present, he SAID vas
finance. Fore. n capital was essential IA
China and the government was drattns
the principles ot Il financial reform. II was
negotiating with the powers for an increase
of the customs duties, for the abolition ol
the transit taxes and for tho reduction c'
the export taxes, which means the income
from the maritime and native taxes "ould
he ,ncrea sed to 60 900 00O taels approximate
" $40 nNO 0rW from the present total OF H.
10000 taels approximately &0.So,7oD.
The increase. no said, would suffice 10 pay
for the amortization OF the foreign loans
He hoped the railroad and other loans
would pay for themselves. Pending the big
loan tho government would, he said, issue
short treasury bonds.
President Yuan recommended plans foF
the Tightening of the burden Of the people,
for proper surveys OF lands, for new scale
Of taxation. for unified system OF curreh-
cy and for a standard weights and meas
ures.
President Yuan said that owing 10 the in
suficiency of financial experts among the
Chinese the employment OF talented Tor
eigners was necessary and he recommend
ed the employment OF foreigners at the
finance Ministry so a. To insure correct
budget and proper accounting.
He pointed out that with the establish
ment of republic Industrial development
had become OF the first Importance. Min
istries OF Forestry, Industry and Commerce
would. he said, be established TO encourage
and subsIdize Industries and 10 educate
students. The mining laws, too must be
reformed and commercial laws adopted and
enforced.
The troops i'm China werc. said the Presi-
dent. unnecessarily numerous and the Min
istrv ~ War had been instructed to reduce
their number.
Religious liberty would. he said. he guar
ante.d. lie deplored tho lack Of public
spirit the lack Of moral training among
the soldiers and the lack OF communications
which creates local preiudices.
IN conclusion tho President promised an
implicit observance OF ell treaties and that
all engagements would BE- speedily mot
The Presidents message has made an eN-
c.llent impression among the representa-
,lyes OF the foreign governments and bank
ers The government apparently realizes
the dangers ~ trying 20 modcrnizc the
country too rapidly,
Only two members ot tho Council wora
queues. and the picturesque Nanchu and
Chinese dress which marked the defunct
National Assembly was almost entirely re-
placed by Western clothes. Seventy six
representatives, were present, out Of a mem
bership Of 100.
Manchu and ChincEc troops aud police
guarded President Yuan Shih-kai on his
way 10 the Assembly and on his return TO
IN. Wal WI MI where he resides