CHINESE AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 19

CHINESE AFFAIRS.

PEKING, January 5. Yuan Shih-Kai was dismissed on the plea that he was suffering from an affection of the foot, but really as the result of a powerful attempt by the Manchus to regain the ascendency. Out of the 15 highest posts in the Ministry nine were occupied by Manchus and five by China- • men. I Yuan Shih-Kai opposed the Manchu prerogatives, and objected to the eunuchs' influence. It is now announced that the withdrawal of the Legation guards has been 1 suspended. January 6. Yuan Shih-Kai and liis family have started for Wei-wei, Hunan, his native place. January 7. The British, American, and Japanese Ministers warn the Begent against any : administrative act calculated to endanger internal peace. ' January 16. j Sir J. N. Jordan (British Minister in I China) and Mr Rocfchill (American Minister) revisited Prince • Chung and made joint representations regarding Yuan SMh-Kai's dismissal without any reasons being given. ' Both were jordially received. January 17. Prince Chun assured the British and American Ministers that Yuen Shih-Kai's dismissal implied no change in Chinese policy. — TOKIO, January 6. It is not believed at Tokio that the Minister's downfall affects the relations between China and Janan. LONDON, January 6. Sir Edward GTey regards seriously the situation which. Yuan Shih-Kai's downfall creates, nnd in view of the danger to foreign interests which it involves Sir John N. Jordan, British Minister at .Peking, js in communication with Sir E. Grey with the view of making representations at Peking. January 7. j It is now announced that the Japanese j Foreign Office considers that Yuan ShihKai' s dismissal is likely to prove a disturbing factor in the Chinese situation. Officials at Washington believe that the tension has been, somewhat relaxed since Liang Tung Yeng's appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. January 9. The Powers have disagreed regarding the question of joint representation regetting Yuan Shih-Kai's dismissal. Ki!3sia, and especially Japan, are the chief opponent*. Speaking of the developments in the politica l affairs of China, Mr Ping Nam, president of the Chinese Empire .Reform Association, informed the Sydney Morning Herald about 10 days ago that the dismissal of Yuan-shi-kai would meet with the approval of members of his association throughout tli9 world. "His behaviour towards the cause of reform," said Mr Ping, "pro\ed him to be a renegade. His duplicity on thf occasion of ths formation of the Reform party 10 years ago showed him to he a leformer only on certain lines — namely, perooual gain and aggrandi^^m^nt. The a-jsociaticn in Sydney le wived word from tho leader Kang Yu Wei, about a. month ago, that Prince Ch'un, the new Regent, intended having an investigation nude into the charge^ that were current that the late Emperor Kwansf-Hsu had been poisoned at the instigation of Yuan-shi-kai. " Never mind what the western world may say, or the Powers themselves, this Yuan-shi-kai was one of the most unprincipled men in the public life of China. It is only three years ago that h«s younger brother wrote to the Chinese Government and warned them about hi^ dishonesty of purpc-e towaids the nation. Even hi 6 father now disowns him. The dismissal is only a just retribution, and what he de&ervcp. " You can rely on it that his dismissal will not in anj way affect the ttability of rrccd government. Prince C'h'un has now some of the best counsellor^ that China has ever had, included among them being Prince Suk Wong, Sun Chun Soon, Jafc Koong, with Liang-tun-yeng at the head, a gentleman who received his education i in America. All these men have made 4

study of the defects and wants of China in the past, and are determined upon their correction in the future. "This unwarranted interference from Great Britain, America, and Japan," went on Mr Ping, "is most regrettable. The question of dismissal of officials concerns the Chinese people alone, and should be left to the discretion of thoss conc-erned. In my opinion it is dangerous for outsiders to meddle in the?c matters. How would the people cf the Commonwealth take it at the present juncture if sonw foreign Power or Powers stepped in and said to the Commonwealth Government : "We warn you against any administrative act at Broken Hill calculated to endanger the internal peace of Australia'? The homely rule that teaches each man to mind his own business is very imperative with foreign Powers in China. The problems , now confronting our nation must be solved and rectified by the inhabitants of China. ! themselves. "We received a cable to-night from Kang Yu Wei at Penan#." concluded Mr Ping, "to convey New Year greetings to Prince Ch'un, and at ihe same time to express every confidence in the destinies of the nation being entrusted to him. Every j branch of the association has received a similar message." i