The Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1911. A NEW DAY IN CHINA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10299, 2 November 1911, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1911. A NEW DAY IN CHINA.

Apparently the Manchus are down and out in China, with the Court in full flight from tho capital and the Chinese in charge. The fact thafc Prince Cliing is temporarily Prime Minister may have no significance, for it is announced that Yuan Slii Ivai will bo at tho head of the Government as soon as he can be released from military duties. Prineo Cliing is described as an enlightened man, but highly conservative. He possesses, the confidence of the representatives of foreign Powers, however, because when ho was President of tho Tsung-Ji-Yatnen, or Foreign Office, twelve or thirteen years ago ho proved himself honest, if not progressive. He was cautious in making promises, but his word was to bo taken, even when his promise conflicted wit.li tho known views of tho old Dowager Empress. Of course, intrigue is so much a matter of course in Pekin, and Chinese Governments have been so m'uch in the hab't of making concessions and then revoking them, that it is impossible to say how far tho present capitulation of the Imperial authorities is sincere : but we may assume from tho evidence that tho Chinese, as opposed to tho Manchus, aro really in charge of the situation, and that tho latest dovelopmcnb is a. serious effort to secure peace by conceding constitutionally the reforms that the revolutionaries are out to win- by tho sword. Yuan Shi Kai has long been recognised to he the ablest and most efficient soldier in the Empire. He is a Chinese, and lie came into prominence first because, unlike other officials, ho took no rake-oft' from tho moneys appropriated for military purposes, hut made it his aim to arm and equip and train tho troops under his command efficiently. He was so obviously tho best of the provincial commanders that ho was summoned to Pekin to organise tho Imperial troops. Thero, however, ho had the corrupt Court and the Manchu- group against him, and, although foreign influence was sufficient for a time to keep him at a post r.f prestige and power, he was soon dismissed in disgrace. His recall now shows how desperate tho position s from the point of view of the Imperial Government. Thero have been frequent hints that ho was in communication, if not in actual league, with the revolutionary reform party, and, of course, being a Chinese, he is presumed to be in complete sympathy with the aspirations of the revolutionaries, although his patriotism may condemn the violence with which tho revolution , has been initiated. The present position is that the Imperial Government has given way all along the line, and has agreed to the summoning of a representative Assembly and the creation of a purely Chinese Ministry, while the midprovinces have set up a Republican Government. Yuan Shi Kai announces that his first endeavour will bo to put a stop to tho fighting. Ho should Lave little difficulty in winning over tho sensible revolutionaries and reformers, but the unreasoning masses, who have been moved by local oppression and petty exactions, and who have no appreciation of politics apart from the immediate requirements of their daily lives, may bo harder to convince.