New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-02
CHINESE V|CE-PRES|DENT
REC|TES COUNTRY'S WOES
Remarkable Telegram TO PresI-
dent Yuan Shih-kai Summing
Up Situation.
FEARS WHITE INTERVENTION
Condition of Foreign Relations
and Military and Financial
Chaos His Principal
Causes of Grief.
uBs 'bc Regular Correspondent OF The Tribune
IN PekingD


IN PekingD
Pcking April Sin long telegram TO
Yuan SEiE-kai. III Yuan-hung, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Provisional Republic of China
and one of the real heroes of the revolu-
ton. las reviewed existing conditions III
a remarkable manner lie has spoken with
great vigor and without the reserve ana
subterfuge which are usually practised by
Chinese officials I'm writing to the chief OF
the state The document constitutes bet
ter portrayal of the actual situation as 1t
was at the time the telegram was dis
patched. which was in March, than any
thing that has appeared. 1t is forceful and
sane, yet graphic, and to the Western
mind, picturesque.
Ii Yuan-hung has for several months
been considered one of the leading men Of
the empire. He took a very prominent
part I'm the revolution. and was largely re-
Sponsble for the successes of the rebel army
in the vicinity OF Wu-Chang and HankoW,
the capture Of which marked the beginning
Of the real revolt. His rise was meteoric'
and So far he has been able to hold his
own although he has been much opposed
by certain politicians. ii is essentially a
soldier, but ne is something of states-
man, too. as is shown by the character OF
his telegram 70 Yuan Shih-kai.
General LIS greatest fear is that CHINA
will see another allied army IN control, ana
ne tearfully urges that something be done at
once to remedy the evils now existing. lie
seems 10 feel most keenly on this SUBJECT
and there is no doubt that his views are
shared by thousands OF other Chinese ana
also, Il must be said by some foreigners
who feel that If conditions are not made
better and China goes drifting along as
she has for some time past a state OF az
fairs will ensue which will make some
form OF Intervention necessary, If foreign
lives and property are to be protected
The Cabinet Delay.
Failure 70 appoint the Cabinet, over
which there was great delay, seems to nave
inspired ii to send the telegram TO Yuan
shih-kai. In reading the telegram 1t should
be remembered that the Cabinet has since
been appointed, but it has not yet assem-
bIed. and the criticisms made by Ii apply
to-day just as much as on the day the tele-
gram was written. The telegram Is in part
as follows translated:
Some time ago, when the question or
the location Of the capital was In dispute
sent a telegram frankly stating my views
and. fortunately, il was favorably received
You have now, Mr. President. been IN
Office more than ten days. and the CABINET
ministers are still unchOsen. But there
must first be q government before there
can be p state, and there must be Cabinet
ministers before there can be govern
ment. II the President hugs an empty title
and the various departments of the gov
eminent are without qualified heads, such
a government is no better than no govern
ment.
With tears / presume to place before
Won all the present dangers which threaten
us.
Ever since the provinces OF the South
and East took the lead in supporting pa
triotic troops by private subscription. the
trade of foreigners has suffered enormous
losses. But there being no preteXt upon
which they could act they had to endure
them. Then the capital revolted and the
disorders spread. one nation increased its
military forces, and another followed In
imitation They selected sites and estab-
lshed their encampments. They divided
the territory and pollced the markets. They
did Just as they pleased and no one dared
TO say anything.
Fear Of Foreign intervention.
"Ostensbly this action is for the pro-
lection of trade. really 1t is for the de-
struction Of the nation. The calamity Of
having allied armies in our midst is once
more before our eyes. We look toward the
North and behold the situation already as
running in Picking the aspect Of armed in
PREVENTION. This condition of our foreign
relations is the first cause OF grief.
The war between the North and the
South began in the autumn and extended
into the winter. The troops hastily levied
having no liked regulations have looked
upon crime as meritorious, upon disorder
ss correct conduct and upon insolence as
the assertion of equality.
'The conduct Of those above is initiated
hv those below This one is degraded and
that che promoted Rewards and punish
mcnts are confused. orders are issued, but
not obeycd 4 province is the territory OF
the man who rules it; the army is the pos
session OF it's general This disposition finds
imitation far and wide. ~ a sound is
peated by its echo Tor the measuring out
and the partition Of the country they care
nothing Moreover, the Yang-tze swarms
with pirates. who arc hostile 10 the new
government and the victorious republic
finds brigands still following the old flag.
in the face OF all this through little lack
OF tact in adjusting matters between the
north and south. We are quarrelling among
ourselves This condition Of military affairs
II the second cause Of grief.
Recently troops OF various sorts have
been raised in tho south and east In our
own locality Kiang-Ilan CWu-chang), they
amount almost 20 a hundred thousand. In
curry into the several provinces shows that
each has exceeded the limit Of its purse.
There IS a dearth both of money and arms.
Public ard private funds are alike exhaust
cd Yet an attempt to reduce the forces
raises an angry calror which causes
anxiety. II il Is desired to retain the troops
then there Is a lack of the wherewithal to
pay them
Concessions to the Powers.
To make further loans is like cutting off
piece of sound flesh 10 patch sore One
proposes 10 give mines. another railways
as security, and there is no mutual con
sultation. The aggressive foreign powers
rejoice at Que plight, thinking to compel us
TO grant monopoly of loans and the super
vision Of expenditures. If we show the
slightest neglect Of duty they will press
us to utter destruction. The beacon OF Yin
Is not far on and still clearer is the ex-
ample OF Poland This condition Of our
finances is the third cause Of grief
The region Of the Yang-tze and Huai
rivers for a long time has been in distress