EX-KING PU-YI

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1933, Page 8

EX-KING PU-YI

REVIEW OF IMPERIAL CHINA

FUTURE RULE OF MANCHUKUO

Pu-vi Hsuan-Tung ,the ex-Emperor of China, son of tlie Manchu Prince Cliun, a brother of the Emperor, Kwangsu, was born in February, 1903. Immediately after the death of Kwangsu tlie Empress Mother, Tsu;Hsu, the actual Regent of China, passed away and Prince Chun acted as Regent for bis two-year-old son, who took as Emperor the name ot Hsuan-Tung. In February, 1912, lie had to abdicate the thereafter liveu almost as a prisoner in liis palace in the Imperial City of Peking. In J une, 1917, General Chuiig-ITsimg set tli. boy on the throne again, hut only for a week, at the end of which he had to

abdicate once more. The Young China party even compelled him in May, 19*22, to cut off liis pigtail. In the same years lie married. Wiien in November, 1924, General Feng invested the palace, Pu-yi managed to escape with the entire Manchu family to the stat of his Father Prince Chun, west of Peking. Feng fore.d him to forgo the privileges which still remained to him, but liis rights were restored by. Marshal Tuan Clii-jui. Thereupon he utilised liis freedom of action to place himself arid his family under the protection of the Japanese .Embassy in Peking', as be still Pared some new hostile move by Feng. On November 30, he went out to do some shopping, under cover of which lie slipped unobtrusively into the legation quarter wi:ere he was received by arrangement at the Japanese Embassy. His next- move was to Tientsin. On February 23, 1925, he travelled in European clothes in , a n ordinary, carriage full of Feng’s soldiers.' They asked him who he was and were quite satisfied when lie tpld them he was a student. x\fter his departure the Republican Government confiscated his jewels and other valuables. At Tientsin he lived in the Japanese Concession under tlie protection of flic Powers and received 250 dollars a month from Japan.

On the formation of tlie State of Marichukuo on March 1, 1932, a declaration was issued under the signature of Mr Chang Chingui, chairman of . the North-eastern Executive Committee. The leading features of the declaration were as follow:—(1) The four provinces of Mukden, Kirin, Heilungkiang and Jehol, casting eff all allegiance to the Republic of China, ■have formed an independent Manchu State. (2) Tim new State repudiates the military clique; Dr Sun’s threepeople principle, and tlie national : st regime, and follows the rule of justice based upon democracy. (3) The old dark government shall be done away 'with, the nild and regulations shall he revised local autonomy shall be promoted, men of talent shall be appointed to posts in the Government, all careers being made open to them, !ttade and industry stall, be encouraged, the monetary system shall be put cri a" firm basis, and the education ,shall be extended to all. (4) The police system shall be developed and perfected, and the country be cleared of bandits.

The' Executive Committee decided Pn-yi should be made chief executive of the State and representatives cf tie committee called on the ex-Emperor three times, soliciting him to accept the position. The ex-Empcrcr a'/last Having given his consent, the accession of the chief executive was celebrated at Changchun, the capital of the new State, with grand pomp and splendour, on March 9. 1932.’ As Regent lie swore to administer the democratic government with the wishes , 0 f the people always in wind.