The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-30
BRITAIN IS AGAIN
FIRST IN CHINA
English Diplomat Reas-
serts Right to Head For
eign Embassies at Court

Picking, July 29.-(Correspondenc of
the Associated Press. when Ii Yuan
hung, the new President, received the
foreign representatives in official audi
ence for the first time on June 10, Sir
John Jordon, the British ambassador
who is dean of the diplomatic corps.
acted as spokesman for the entente
ministers, fact that has caused con-
siderable favorable comment on the
part of Chinese papers
The Picking Daily News says: I'VE
have much pleasure to record that the
most significant event in the first Of
fetal reception of the new President
to the foreign representatives in Pc
king is the restoration of Sir John Jor
don, the British minister, to his hon
ored position as doyen of the diplo-
matte corps of recognized leadership.
During the audience, Sir Jordon acted
a S spokesman for the ministers of the
allied powers, which means a change
of the rela of Great Britain and
Japan towards China. The reassertion
of the diplomatic precedence by the
British minister is beartidly welcomed
by the enlightened class of Chinese,
who do not like to witness the pushful
and forward actions of the Japanese
representative
Four of the foreign advisers of Presi-
dent Lii Yuan hung, Dr. w w. Will
loughby and Dr. jeremiah W. jerks.
both Americans; DR.. George E. Morri-
son, an Englishman, and DIR. N. Ariga.
japanese, have had many conferences
with the President since he entered
upon his new office These advisers
have frequently suggested to him that
it is desirable. in their opinion, to re-
turn at once to the Marking provision
al constitution, the original constitu-
ton of the republic and call leg
islative body al the earliest possible
moment.
While Lii Yuan-hung is inclined to
act upon this advice, he is opposed in
this by several members of his ca binet
Yuan-Chi-kai ruled China almost en-
tirely by mandate. Absolute power was
vested in him under the so-called pro-
visional compact which he enacted to
replace the Marking provisional con-
stitution. The arbitrary action of Yuan
Shi-kai caused so much resentment
among progressive Chinese that many
of the Chinese advisers of Lii Yuan
hung urge he should avoid government
by mandate as far possible and en-
deavor to turn legislative power over
to an assembly or. parliament.
China's empty treasury and thou
sands. of unpaid soldiers are a terrible
stumb bling block to the new President
in his effort to put the republic on
Japanese financiers are striving to
make China a reorganization loan of
100, 100000 yen. or about $4,000, 900
gold. Ii Yuanh hung is unwilling to ac-
cept this financial assistance from Jap
ap, and favors the various American
groups which are endeavoring to UNI
derwrite reorganization loan for
China.
Were the new President to accept
Japanese assistance, he would prob
ably provoke storm of disapproval
which might result in his undoing. The
feeling is far more friendly towards
the Americans, and the negotiation of
loan through American financial in
situations which are considering the
reorganization of China's finances,
would do much to allay the general
apprehension concerning possible Jap
anese aggression in China.
Although no official reports have
been made concerning the financial
conditions of the two Chinese national
banks. the Bank of Communications
and the Bank of China, they are still
unable to resume specie payment and
the partial moratorium declared by the
Chinese government is still in force
Efforts of the government to prevent
the notes of the two banks falling
below par, have been futile Bank notes
are now hawked about at discounts
varying from 10 to 90 per cent Jap
aneSe banks have bought in large
quantities of the deprecated notes, and
there is a general apprehension that
Japan may make demand for specie
payment upon these notes a face value