CHINESE AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14925, 30 August 1910, Page 5

CHINESE AFFAIRS

THE DEPOSED VICEROY. PROBABLE RETURN TO OFFICE. Press- Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 28. Reuter's Peking agent advises that terms are being arranged for Yuan Shai Kai's return to office. Tho dismissal of Yuan Sliih Kai, one of tho leading statesmen of China, find perhaps tho best known, from all his offices, which was announced from Peking in January, 1909, was based, in tho olficial edict, upon tho ground that he was suffering from rheumatism of the leg. Ho was also ordered to " return to his nativo place," so that ho was Tcmovcd in i a double senso from the centro of authority and influence. "Thus our cicmenoy towards him is manifested," the edict declares. In a messago from Peking Router stated that tho dismissal came unexpectedly, and added; "Considerable comment haa _ bcen_ excited by the facts that tho Imperial edict on tlie subject is couched in' somewhat discourteous terms, and. that tlio appointment of Na Tung, who is a Manchu, as .i member of the Grand Council, only leaves two Chineso on that Council. both belonging to tile old school.' The forced retirement of Yuan Shih Kai meant that for the time being the party of reform and progress in China. suffered a check, and tho Manclms ami reactionaries triumphed. Yuan was universally admitted to bo tho greatest and most Jar-sighted Chineso statesman of modern times. To .him, moro than to any other man, is due the-remark-able changes that since 1900 have revolutionised lifo in the Middle Kingdom. lie realised during tho Chino-Japanesc war that if his country was to retain its independence it must, brcomo westernised. Accordingly he secured charge of an army corps and began to arm and drill it on European lines. In the strugglo 'between the young Emperor and the Dowager Emprcv» (both now dead) it was Yuan's modern soldiers who gnvo victory to the latter. Yuan was rewarded with the Viceroy Governorship of Shantung. Then came the Boxer trouble. Yuan ignored tho Empress's anti-foreign order and protected all the Europeans in his province instead of killing thom. Peking threatened him with death. Soon, however, lm was higher in favour than evor. He became Viceroy of the premier provineo of Pcohi-li in 1901. Here his reforming spirit liad full scope. Schools for both sexes were started, s temples being turned into schools. Cilira wero transformed, loafers were made industrious. jiioila! orisons took tho placc of tho old torture dens, and tho modern army was increased to 75,000 men. In 1907 ho went to Peking as principal member of the Foreign Office, and it was duo to him that tho succession of the new Emperor proceeded so quietly. The fallen statesman has ever been noted for his friendship for Britain. He is still comparatively young—a little over 50. WATCH YOUR ACCOUNTS. Selling goods is not always difficult, but getting payment! Ah, that's auother £*orv! If you have goc<ls for delivery to unknown buyers at a distance, best send them through in on our C.O.D. system, ion avoid risk of loss, get payment promptly, save monov right through. The >>cw Zealand Express Co. (Ltd.). Officcs: Bond street. '