Political Affairs in China

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1921, Page 1

Political Affairs in China

STATEMENT BY CONSUL IN N.Z

WELLINGTON, June 14

A question having arisen as to the legality or otherwise of the recent election of Sun Yat Sen to the Presidency of Ivwongtung Province, the matter was referred to Mr Lin, Chinese Consul in New Zealand, who explained that his duty was to the Government of the Republic of China, at the head of which was the President, Hsu Shili Chang, who was duly elected by Parlia/menti assembled at Peking. The Consul docs not consider himself under any political obligation to those Chinese who olnoose to place themselves under the banner of Sun Yat Son. Some time after the death ot Vman Shih Kai, a new Parliament was elected and summoned to meet at Peking, but some so-called Nationalist members of the extinct Parliament held meetings at Canton quite recently, and professed to elect Sun Yat Sen President. “There are two Houses of'the Chinese Parliament, comprising 870 members,” the Consul explained. “The election of Sun Yat Sen is illegal, and is disregarded absolutely bv all who have the welfare of the country at heart. Those in China who support him are disappointed office-seekers. Those out < f China who support him are ignorant of the true position. TTis total supporters are a very small proportion of the population of China. Anyone knowing the true position in Chinn, and viewing the hole-and-corner proceedings in Canton, unhesitatingly pronounce the so-called election of Sun Yat Sen as bifiPs play.” The Consul forth.• plained that his office in New Zealand was not a politcal one, and therefore he could not with propriety attend political meetings. TTis private opinion was that in the course of a few months a strong beam of daylight would reveal the weaknesses of the struggle in the South.