YUAN SHI KAI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15902, 13 April 1912, Page 14

YUAN SHI KAI.

PRESIDENT OF A NEW REPUBLIC. “ A BIG/ ROLLICKING CHINAMAN” Yuan Shi Kai has been elocted first President of the Chinese Republic. In ISB4, says an anonymous writer to the New York ‘‘ Sun,” Yuan had just succeeded the Manchu General in cliargo of the Chinese troops sent to Seoul. How he, with the aid and advice of Li Hung Chang and Woo Li Tang, drove the Japaneso out of Korea, is a matter of history. But what the public docs not know is the ignorance, now as then, of China’s present Premier. Yuan was without education “ oven lu.r I a Chinaman.” He know no English at all, and had never been- out* of Kore. in liis life. Says this writer:— He was in my time just a big, brutal, sensual, rollicking Chinaman. Having vast powers, lie frequently cut ori the heads of Chinese gamblers and others, and I was an unwilling witness of some of these street side pastimes of liis. lie would imprison Korean,gentlemen who objected to parting with their ancestral estates in order that they might he used to enlarge Yuan’s palatial lo'gation. He would not let a physician save the life of one of his soldiers in the erneute by amputating his arm, saying, “ Of what use would a onearmed soldier be?" Yet ho kept as a pensioner another soldier whoso life was saved, but who was useless as a trooper. Ho was extremely* quick, quite. fearless, very rash, yet given to ■Consultation with Tang ancl others, and therefore inclined to lie reasonable, lie wa's'altogether unscrupulous, but ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL and devoted to liis patron, and largely so to his friends. Ho would sacrifice an enemy, or one who stood in liis way, but would at tlie same time sacrifice himself readily lor liis patrons. Nobody understands the meaning of the term arrogance who didn’t know Yuan in those years 1881-94. He was arrogance personified. , He would not meet or associate with the Ministers of other Powsrs unless lie was allowed to occupy a sort of throne and “receive” tliein as they were vassal envoys. At a Korean state dinner he always occupied the. foot (one end) of the table, which then became the head, lie rode the lialf-milo through tho palaee'from the gates in the audience hall in liis chair, and had liis interview first, while the rest of us waited,outside after walking all that distance through tho mud. In my intimate relations with the Korean Court I knew quite well that this was as distasteful to the King, who was lorced by Yuan to take this course, as it was to us, particularly to the .Japanese Minister, whom Yuan treated with marked contempt. In 1593 the American Charge d'Affaires induced the Russian, French and British representatives to join him in refusing to attend an audience unless allowed to ride in as did Yuan. As late as October u, 1893, the Japanese Minister war afraid to join us in that action, which he sci heartily approved. The Germans would not do it without instructions. Before a year had passed the Japanese Minister was riding in a horse-drawn vehicle. It was Yuan and his arrogance, that mpdo the war of 1894 possible at that time, for which Japan had been steadily though secretly preparing since the emeute of 1881, just as the arrogance of Pavlow in Seoul and Alex’ieff in Port - Arthur made the 1904 war possible after another two years of strenuous preparation on tho part of Japan. Vi'Tien all was ready a pretext was necessary, and Sugimura, of the Japanese Legation, worked arrogant old Yuan up to tho 'point of calling for Chinese troops to suppress a Korean uprising. His pride in China and ' contempt ror. japan was so great that he readily fell into the trap, utterly unmindful of the Convention of 18fid (Tientsin), by which each Power agreed not to land troops in Korea again without first informing tho others, implying securing the others’ consent. I. was dining with Yuan when I lie telegram came announcing tho des-

patch of troops. The Japanese present also got a telegram, and were so jubilant that Tang convinced Yuan of the gravity of the situation and wo laid to break up and leave. Yuan lied so suddenly that he left liis, mother and his conciijlincs behind, a moot unusual act for a Chinaman. That, is tho last I saw of Yuan, hut Tang damn back after tho war, and was unofficial Chinese representative in Seoul for some time, until a minister was appointed. Tuan was not in disfavour with Li Hung Chang, apparently, because of the war, for through his patron ho became quite influential in military matters, and was presumably able to • convince Li that China must have a modern army. You know of the one 110 organised; how ho practically succeeded Li at the latter’s •death and became faithful to the late Emperor, as he had been to Li, even to tho extent of betraying to him tho late Emperor and tho reformer Kang Yen Wei, and the denounement of tho very reforms ho now advocates in larger measure. Tang was in Washington when tho Empress died, and left' post-haste for Pekin, knowing Yuan’s - danger. It was probably due to his and Liang’s interference that

ycam’s life was saved by mere banishment, for both Tang and Liang had risen to the very top with Yuan’s vast accession. of_ power through liis strength with the Empress. I would not dare predict tho future. I can only point to the Tai-ping rebellion, which Ward did so much in suppressing, but the glory of which went to London with true British disinterestedness in calling Ward (like Burlingame) an adventurer. The scene of conflict was the samo then as now. Wuchang was the first city to fall. Hankow foil with it, then Nanking, which, the rebels held for twelve years. As now. thev aimed to protect foreigners and further commerce. But they never did anything constructive. They seemed content with the fruits of their victories and with tho annoyance they were giving the imperial Government, which "soon had a foreign war on its hands. Yuan is evidently accepting good advice, and Tang is probably bis chief adviser and interpreter. If ho can unite the Chinese under a central authority, be it Manchu or Cnmese, he will soon begin lopping off the heads of tlie leaders and malcontents, and terror will bring nbouf peace until tho people forget and agitators aio able to foment another outbreak.