CHINESE ASSEMBLY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1024, 13 January 1911, Page 9

CHINESE ASSEMBLY.

A SUCCESFUL EXPERIMENT. A SCENE OK GREAT ENTHUSIASM. The success of the Chinese Imperial Assembly has been a matter of surprise to the oldest and best-informed residents of Peking, both Chinese and foreign. It was generally expected that the members would meet, pass certain innocuous resolutions, and, having justified their appointment to their fellow provincials, quietly adjourn, thankful to liavo passed through a dangerous ordeal in safety. Some siieh ideas wore probably entertained by tho Imperial party when they appointed the accomplished but inexperienced Prince, Ku Luii as President of the Assembly. Had Prince Citing, Prince Yu Lang, or any other recognised statesmail among the princes been appointed to preside, the Assembly would havo begun its labours endowed with considerably greater importance in the minds of tho general public. It is doubtful,' however, whether its success would have been so marked; and; in tho light of recent events, tho Throne probably has cause to congratulate itself lipon the.appointment of a President who has been visibly impressed by' the senatorial bearing of the members, and who, not feeling any shadow of contempt, showed no trace of haughtiness during tho whole of the proceedings. Indeed, the earnestness of tho President has been as notable as tho quiet dignity of the members, who onco only appeared in danger of getting out of-hand.

In the earlier meetings, while important but not enthralling matters of domestic reform and reorganisation were being discussed, the breadth of knowledge, displayed by the members was the great feature of tho cicbats. Though not quite experts in 'technical subjects, they proved that they had given long and careful study to the matters in hand, and so it gradually * began to dawn upon tho public that these men,, would really bo a great acquisition to tho Councils of the' Empire. ■ The Prinoos Impressed. Tho keynote of the discussion appeared, to be unanimity, and it needed no intuition to understan.d that this homogeneity w-as not tho inspiration of a moment. A closo observer of the princes; who occupied a separate portion of the gallery situated directly opposite tho President, subsequently remarked that they exhibited at first a quiet air of tolerance not unmixed with amusement, looking deprccatingly, sometimes, through the entrance to ...their compartment to the group of.foreigners' near at ■ hand.. As tho proceedings went on their interest increased rapidly, and eoou ono could detect traces of prido at tho conduct and demeanour :of the'House,'which is, perhaps,, a testimony of its success best understood by persons familiar with Chinese sensitivc.ness'to anything:in the nature of awkwardness that might load to ridicule. A slight but unmistakable change came over, tho spirit of the- Assembly when the question arose of petitioning tho -Throno a third time to shorten tho period arranged for the opening of a Parliament: ' Quiet ; determination, which-might not inaptly bo described as grim, spread oyer the House. Tho first speaker said that the success or failure' of the people to" obtain' a Parliament meant-the life | or..the death of the -Empire.' Foreign- -.aggression" bad become much more apparent of late, and thcro was to be considered ■ttho-diffifiult of financial stringency. Without Parliament- no one was .responsible for the financial difficulties, oifoul'iijgf could ''bo done'■tir'pfdtccfc-'-the" 1 ■integrity of the Empire, and the corruption existing under the present system of Government-could ,not. bo',overcome. If tho people were'not' represented they could not-bo asked to. be responsible for tho country's debts. ; The only remedy for the. financial ' stringency was increased taxation; but no one would recogniso liability to extra taxation under the existing conditions. The establishment of. a responsible Cabinet and, Parliament was, what the people desired, ' but at tho moment they only askodfor tho latter. Another speaker stated that noi-. ther the central Government nor tho officials were responsible for tho deplorable condition of affairs in the Empire,and . neither could effect a. remedy, which lay in the establishment ■of a Parlian-.nt Many othoi- speakers continued in tho same strain, and then the president was asked to decide upon a motion. ' A Unanimous vote. The Houso by tlfis time' had become worked into a high state of excitement", and a member rose and asked whether anyone, opposed tho motion. No ono responding, the members., were inclined to accept the result as a. unanimous verdict. But tho .president rose and said that a ballot ought to bo. ■taken. Cries of "No, no!" followed, and a member said excitedly, "If you insist upon 'a ballot you must symprthiso with our opponents. Let those ill favour- stand." Immediately■'.every member stood up, and cheers broke out from 500 people in tho gallery, including several princes. Tho cheers were taken up by.tho members, and a seeiio of great enthusiasm followed. 'When order, had been restored, the president appointed a committee of six, members to draft .tho memorial to the Throne, .and tho House.adiourned Tho success of the Parliamentary motion created a.profound impression, not I only in Peking but throughout tho provinces, and during tho next two days telegrams of congratulation were received from. all-.parts of tho Empire, the House did not meet again for four' days, and those ..who feared an outbreak o( fiery patriotism wero relieved to find • that ' tho sitting was conducted with, special calmness. . treat interest centred, however, in the presentation of the Budget by Dnko-lsai Tse, President of the Board of finance, as lie was suspected ot being distinctly reactionarv. It was a pleasant surprise, therefore', when the ablo and extremely dignified Princo oxpressed himself in favour of a Parliament. - Walking on the lower platform in front of tho President, ho said-Gentlemen,.-there is no .need for me to go into details, as you know quite well we have got no ■ money. Since the year ISOO heavy indemnities have had to bo paid, and latterly wo'have introduced far-reaching and expensive reforms in education and an extensive reorganisation in commerce, industries, the army, the navy, and many minor aflairs. All these things take money We cannot go back, and so .we find ourselves with limited ■ financial resources endeavouring to earn- out an unlimited number of reforms. The situation is critical; the ' r'cmcdv lies in tho establishment of a natioiiaVParliament, which would enable us to put our house in order. I have no doubt that following the opening of a Parlia- ; ment the finances of the country will [ be in a better condition, .and I hope a . Parliament will come as soon ns possible."

Delighted with his frank remarks, no less than by his easy dignity, the House cheered heartily as the Prince.returned to his seat. • The memorial then camo on for discussion, the secretary reading it to the House. A member proposed that an additional clause he added asking for the term of preparation to be fixed at three years, but the House did not favour the suggestion, and after many speakers had supported the memorial in its original form, it was carried, the President agreeing to exercise his personal influence upon the Throne, and to attach to the document all former memorials from the province? and all representations made to the Throne or Government by Chinese communities oversea.