Evening star., 1919-12-28
SEES jAPAN'S HAND
IN CH|NA'S POLITICS
W. R. Giles Says Sinister
Work of Anfu Club Comes
From Japanese.
BY WILLIAM r. GILES.

Special Correspondence of The Star
and the Chicago Daily News.
PEKING, China, November lot is
now over four months since China had
a responsible cabinet and the fight now
going on is the greatest political strug
gle since the death of Yuan Shih-kai
Time and time again the premier has
drawn up a list of nominees to be pre-
sented to parliament for approval, but
at the last moment they have had to
be withdrawn on account of it having
been learned that certain of the Off
cials mentioned in the list would not
be accepted by parliament
All these months there has been a sin
lister influence at work in the shape of
the Anfu Club. The Anfu Club is a po-
litical organization composed of the pro-
Japanese officials who have had an evil
influence on the country for the last
organization who concluded the 1918
treaty with Japan whereby the Japanese
got such strong hold on Shantung for
the paltry sum of 10000, 900 yen (SlO,-
O0O.000). This agreement, which was Sc
cret, was negotiated by the Chinese
minister to Toxic. a member of the
Anfu party, and received the support of
the pro-Japanese members of the cab
met and the military party in the north.
1t will be remembered that it was the
SNpoSAh6 VI ILLS treaty WHICH caused SO
much establishment in Paris, the Chinese
delegates being more astonished than
any one else.
ANU Club Demands Ministries.
In the present instance the Anfu
Cup is demanding that all important
positions in the new cabinet be given
to its members. These include the
ministries of finance, communica-
lions. interior and justice. This pro-
japanese organization has the ma
Jorlty vote in both houses of parlia-
ment. for it is in a position to pay
Tor services rendered. Much of the
money obtained from recent loans has
found its way into the Golfers of this
organization and it is also claimed
that the Japanese have been giving
iit financial aid.
Realizing that it requires a lot of
money to keep their organization go
can get the positions Of ministers of
finance and communications for their
own members, it will be impossible
for them to obtain certain subsidies
hitherto apportioned them by their
representatives holding these posi-
| tions, they are making these seats
the price for the passing of the other
| nominations. The present is not a
true political struggle as we under
stand it in the west. The Anfu
party has no definite platform, nor is
it fighting for any ideal or to get a
| just and beneficent government. All
its attention is centered on maintain
| ing its present position, so that it
can continue to extract large sums
of money from the government for its
own personal or party use.
Blocks Reform Measures.
The Anfu club is the biggest curse
! that China has had to contend with
| since China became a republic II
has blocked all reform measures. un-
less it suited it's purpose to allow
! them to go through. has been instru-
mental in prolonging civil strife, is
responsible for the large number OF
loans and arms transactions with the
Japanese and is now preventing the
formation Of the cabinet, a thing most
necessary for the future well-beine
of the country. It's real power lies
not so much in the fact. that it has
the majority in parliament, but be-
cause it is the servant of the northern
military party. which supports it or
all occasions. If the government
does not give the latter the money il