Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-29


to submit to the will of national con-
vention.
President Asked to Resign.
A fortnight after his installation as
provisional president, DR.. Sun Yat-sen
was asked by the premier. Yuan Shin
kai. to resign the presidency, leaving the
latter to exercise sovereign power until
the meeting of the national convention.
The president was willing to resign the
office. but affairs were in such an I'M
settled condition that the premier hest
tated. The republican government had
but the situation was SO threatening that
the American minister at Peking called
all Americans living in that city into the
legation quarter.
A telling blow at the monarchy came
from fOrty-SiX generals of the imperial
army. who sent in demand to the
premier that the government proceed at
once to settle the troubles of the coun-
try. even if abdication were necessary
in order to secure peace. Shortly after
ward the dOwager empress, in behalf
OF the little emperor. signed a decree
directing the premier to cooperate with
the Marking republicans in forming
republic. On the following day the revo-
lutionary leaders asked Yuan to issue
orders to stop fighting, and before the
middle of February the Manchu dynasty
In China came to an end. with the abdi-
cation of the child emperor and the
ment. Yuan Shih-kai assuming the title
of organizer of the republic" a
End of Manchu Dynasty.
Thus the curtain was rung down on
the Manchu dynasty, leaving Yuan Shin
kai dominant. with full power to organ
ize republican form Of government in
China. February Is. in accordance with
an earlier understanding. the Marking
assembly elected Yuan to the Provisional
presidency by a unanimous vote. hav-
ing accepted the resignation of DR.. Sun
and his cabinet on the same day. Later,
the northern provinces and Manchuria.
Mongolia and Turkestan. all under
Yuan's control. voted similarly. dis
pute arose as to where the new presi-
dent should be fnaugurated, Marking
claiming the honor on account of it's
part in the formation of the republic.
Foreseeing the danger of rupture,
Yuan agreed to go to Marking but his
decision was followed by so great an
increase in the popular discomfort that
he prevailed on the Marking assembly
to come to Picking.
Treatment of Foreigners.
In his first presidential message Yuan
~ - " NC Tic pun pOSc VI tie new
republic to understand and treat for
eigners with friendship and candor'' He
emphasized the necessity for reorganiz-
ing the financial system of the country.
For more than year the financial rep
resentatives of six great powers - the
United States. Great Britain, Germany,
France, Russia and Japan-had been try
ing to negotiate loan with China AL
though the six-power group Of foreign
fnanciers was willing to furnish the
money. the conditions were so distasteful
to the Chinese officials that they hest.
tated.
1t had been evident for some time that
both Mongolia and Turkestan, outlying
Chinese provinces, were about to pass
under Russian influence. For many
years the former has been more Russian
than Chinese. Russian garrisons have
occupied the chief towns for the alleged
protection of the consulates, and the Of
fetal announcement of the independence
of northern Mongolia, October 49, was a
further step in the direction of absorb
ton. Despite the progress made by Presi-
dent Yuan in carrying out the reform
program. there is still great lack Of unity
in Chinese affairs.