UNREST IN CHINA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1804, 17 July 1913, Page 7

UNREST IN CHINA.

REBELS STILL ACTIVE. SECESSION PROCLAMATION EXPECTED. MINISTERS IMPEACHED. By Telograpli—Press Association—Coi>yrfgh» Pekin, July 15. Thero is renewed unrest in tho Southern Yang-tso provinces.,, The Government is sending reinforcements. It is reported that the rebels repulsed tlie northern troops at Hnkow. A secession proclamation is expected. Tho Republican 'House of Representatives has Toad a first timo five Bills impeaching the Cabinet, particularly the Ministers for War, the Navy, and Finance, for its actions in connection with tho Austrian loan. Political affairs in China are in a critical condition owing to the violation of the Constitution in connection with the Quintuple Loan of £25,000,000. Public opinion is greatly against the high-handed manner in which the loan was negotiated by tho President, Yuan-Shih-kai, who signed tho contract without tho assent of Parliament. A strong opposition to tho loan has manifested itself in Parliament. Thero is reason to fear that the proceeds of the loan aro to bo devoted to bnv; ing a majority of votes for STuan-Shih-kai in the Presidential election, which is to take place as soon as Parliament is in working order. Part of the loan will also probably bo devoted to the purchase of war materials in order that force mav bs employed to compel the public to submit to the arbitrary orders from Pekin. This is quite likely to lead ,to internecine war, not so much North against South, ns. the strong opposition of New China, both North and South, to the allegedly corrupt methods of the Pekin authorities. Thero is a ■widespread belief that the Government are implicated in tho murder of the political leader. Sun Chiao-jen. On this ground, and becauso of the violation of the Constitution with regard to the loan. Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his party have withdrawn their support from Yuan-Shih-kai. They appeal to the British public to withold sunport from the Quintuple Loan until it has had tho approval of,the Chinese Parliament and public. Parliament is not opposed to foreign loans provided that they are arranged according to the law and in accordance with tho Constitution. In May last, the "Daily Tpiegraph's" Pekin correspondent reported that Austria had demanded a share of the five Power loan to tho extent of three and a half'millions, and that the demand had surprised the Five Power Syndicate. Investigations showed that the Austrian groups consisted of the Ivrupp and Skoda works, which are allied to secure a, -monpoly of the Chinese arms and steel market.