Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-01
UNITED CHINA
HOPE CROWS AS
. S0[0NS GATHER
Parliament of New Re-
public Asked to Fix
Status of President.
South, With Sun Vat
Sen Still on Offensive,
Not Likely to Come in.

Picking. July 31.-(By the Associated
Press).-China's parliament is expect
ed to convene here Tuesday, its first
parliamentary meeting since 1917.
Upon its courage to proceed with the
reunited China program hang the plans
and hopes OF President Ii Yuan
Chung.
Monday there was uncertainty wheth-
er sufficient members would be avail
abb" to form a quorum, but members
to have arrived at Picking asserted they
would continue in session until able to
function.
Both the president of the senate and
the speaker of the house of represent
atives have declared their determine
ton TO restore parliamentary govern
ment in China. Problems facing parlia-
ment include the depleted national
treasury. discord among the provinces
and hostility of the nilitarists. who do
not want their troops disbanded.
President Ii described the situation
as the gravest since the repiblic was
established. He said he hoped that.
with the reassembling of parliament,
China's leaders would abandon selfish
dLlDitlouS anu ueNolt tHtIi lit SiCS "
stabilizing the country.
President Lii also wants parliament
to decide his status as president. He
said he was willing to retire # parlia-
ment elects another man 10 th" posi-
ton. In this connection, General TSao
Kun and General WI Pei Fu have been
mentioned as possibilities for the pres
idential chair. Both these men once
were private soldiers. Bo.a have fac
tons working in their interests al
though General Wa recently declared
he had no presidential ambition.
Among the schemes which President
Ii urges parliament to adopt are in
cluded reduction of the present LOO
600 soldiers to a number sufficient only
for defensive purposes, abolition OF the
Tuchuns and formation of a federation
of provinces under a capable central
government and the reorganization of
the nations finances.
China will not be prosperous and
China will not be free of foreign loan,
President Lii declared, until the prov
inces contribute their proper share of
payment toward federal expenses.
The majority of Chinese newspapers
consider the presidents proposal i'm
possible for immediate f%uifillment. The
newspapers call attention to the fact
that governors of many provinces
openly defy Picking, while other gov
errors are engaged in purely local
wars.
The newspapers asserted hat so
long as Sun Vat Sen, deposad presi-
dent. remains about Canton, the south
west section of China is unlikely to
join the u~nification plan.
Another deterrent is seen in the ac-
|tivities of General Chang Tso Lin. who
is reported rapidly recuperating mill
tary strength with the intention Of cy-
erting influence upon Picking. General
is holding the railroad between
Shan Hal kuan and NIukien, in sup
port of his demand he be recognized as
the military dictator of M~anchuria.
whose wishes must be consulted in any
reorganization of the government.
General WI Pei Flu appears to he
adhering TO his pledge to refrain from
active participation in polotics. He re-
mains o%bscurely at his home in interior
awaiting events, despite the fac
ton working in his behalf for the pres