Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-30
THE RUSSIAN-JAPANESE ALLIANCE

The Russo-Japanese rapprochemeut
and China's reversien from republic to
monarchy are serious
Reversion to and ofte n-recurring
questions Of the hour.
an Empire. The dispatches in octo-
Der, 1915. announced that a convention
would be held November 10 to decide
If China should remain a republic or
revert to monarchy. November IL
eleven of the eighteen provinces of
China voted unanimously for the resto-
ration of the monarchy. with Yuan
Shih-kai as emperor. January I Yuan.
with much apparent modesty and hest
tation. accepted the proffered crown.
and named February IL as coronation
day, suggesting that there should not
be any ''kowtow," and no extrava-
CANT expenditures. etc. January II
a dispatch announced a serious revolt
in Yunnam and subsequently it was
reported that the troops of the govern
ment had been defeated by the revolu-
tionists. January 81 a Picking dispatch
announced that the coronation was
postponed. due to the uprising in
southern China. and the various le-
cations at Picking had been so inform
ed by the Chinese foreign ONCE. In the
interval, it appears. Gen. Ii Yuan
Hung. vice president Of the republic.
resigned, and following this important
information Japan as well as certain
European powers and the United States.
had protested against the change from
republic to monarchy.
ak1H 40 ~ az -
reported a speech made by President
Yuan. at a cabinet meeting, in which
he said:
Our suzerainty in southern Man
churia has gradually gone into the
hands of foreigners. The foreign ag-
gressor has come to our doors. but our
people are still dallying in the midst
of calamities. By all means must
save the country. Above all, do not
forget the national disgrace Of May Z
matum by the terms Of which Japan
obtained extensive political and indus
trial concessions)."
So much for Picking. Now a word
about the rebels in Yunnam. Tong
Chi-Yao was appointed
Yunnam military governor Of the
Dill, rebels of Yunnam. len
"sA'' Kao-Tseng civil COVER
nor. These functionaries advised
the legations at Picking that the
Yunnam republic would respect all
treaty obligations that antedated
the revolution and would repudiate
all others. The powers were requested
to remain neutral, foreigners would be
protected.
The province Of Yunnam counts thirty
million inhabitants. 1t borders the
French possessions Of Indo-Chin 1t has
no communications with the exterior ex-
cept from Yunnamfou, the capital Of Lao
kai. on frontier Of Tonkin.
The correspondent of the Novoie
Vremia at Picking wrote his journal re
Gently: The actual president of the
celestial republic, ardent partisan OF
of the German ambassador at Peking,
Won Hintze, who notified Yuan. Novem-
Der last, of the Official assent of Ger
many to the monarchical restoration
in China and the condition that the
crown should be attributed to Yuan
Shih-kai."
This brings up the Russo-Japanese
rapprochement and the Chinese ques-
ton. Russia, it Is understood. had am
billions which extended south from
China even. Japan had ambitions in
China and Japan, 1ss4-1ss5, and the
war usso-Japanese. 1903-1905.
China, having shown her military in
capacity. was threatened with dismem-
jealousies of the competitors. In No
vember, 1897, Germany seized the port
Of Kiauchau. Russia, by agreement
with China, March 81. 1898. took Port
Arthur and Talienwan on a lease of
twenty-five years. Great Britain. in
the same year. took weihaiwei. in
Shantung. AS expected by the know
ing ones. the 450.000.000 Of yellow men
looked on with displeasure at this parti-
ton, and in 1900 the Boxer" rebellion
resulted. 1t merits special attention be-
cause Yuan Shih-kai, then viceroy OF
Pechili, was advised by his all-seeing
secretary, very cautious and intelli-
gent man, that prudence dictated that
he. Yuan, should openly espouse the
cause of the European contingent oper-
these commandments whispered to Tong
Shao-Yi that Yuan might then aspire to
be emperor.
Following the rebellion Russia occu-
pied Manchuria, and. refusing to with
draw, Japan, February
Occupation 8. 1904, commenced hos
tilities. The war was
ny Aussla. brought to a close by
the treaty of peace signed at Ports
mouth, September s. 1905.
The seed sown by the Boxer rebel
lion sprouted again in 1911, when a
revolution broke out, first. as a revolu-
ton of palace, behind which was the
viceroy of Pechili. The empire was
overturned. and in order to save the
fate of the dynasty the emperor alb
dictated in favor of the republic.
The triumphant revolution at the close
Of 1911 constituted a government at Nam
kin. 1t proclaimed the republic, voted
constitution inspired by occidental re-
publics, and DR.. Sun Yat-Sen. one of the
principal artisans Of the movement. was
elected chief of state.
The great need Of the newborn re-
public was money and Yuan now stepped
into the breach. having won the con-
fidence Of the consortium through the
tary Tong Shao-Yf. Russia, 1t Is charged,
aided Tong and finally Russia and Japan
were given place in the consortium. Yuan
became the money medium
and it was on the back of Yuan that
loans were effected. When the repub-
lican government at Nankin found itself
hopelessly cut OF from sustenance DR..
Sun Yat-Sen, affecting confidence in
Yuan. resigned in favor of Yuan and the
latter became president in his place.
A loan Of 100000 was contracted IN
1913. When it was ascertained at Wash
ington that a COUP d'etat might be ex.