The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1913. THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 74, 1 August 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1913. THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Hie revolutionary crisis in China is, according to Mr Yin sou Lee, a wellknown merchant in Sydney, duo to a

large extent to Southern antagonism ■towards the .North, as well as to Yuan Shih-Kai’s attempt to play the part of an autocrat. Some trouble between the North and South was expected when China turned from monarchy to republicanism. The President (Yuan Shih-Kai) has, according to Mr Lee, been charged with acting too summarily and unconstitutionally. All the

| “plums” of office have been given to I the Northerners, while the Southerners have been left out in the cold. There is not a single Southern representative at Pekin, notwithstanding that some of the ablest financial geniuses are in Hongkong. Admitting that the President is an extremely strong man, a man of great force of character, and an experienced leader and military organiser, it has to be remembered that Southerners have secured the services of Tseu Chun Hsuan, a

man of great resolution, and an ex- \ iceroy of Canton under the old regime. Ho was always a reformer, and

preferred force to diplomacy. During his term as Viceroy of Canton he secured many reforms, including the abolition of the lottery monopoly. Ho was Director-General of the Canton railways, and by virtue of that office ho formed two regiments of railway guards to protect the Southern railways during the present trouble, which lie could forsee. The President was anxious that those guards should be disbanded, as be had an idea that

if the position became serious Tsen would make use, of them. And there is no doubt that Tsen is making use of them at present. Yuan Shih-Kai recently issued a Presidential mandate forbidding the importation of arms and ammunition bv the Southerners

without the sanction of the Minister for War. This, together with the placing of a guard over the Hanyang

and other arsenals, incensed the Southerners, who had already considered that Yuan was usurping the position oi President, seeing that he had only noon appointed provisionally. At present there are several aspirants lot the office, Tsen being among them. “If elected ho would prove a most capable man,” said Mr Lee to a Sydney “Telegraph” representative. “He is much hated, but it is recognised that his ability, probity, and experience would commend him to, the patriots as a man upon whom they could place reliance. He was considered an anti-foreigner, hut this has been disproved, as his feelings in that direction extended no further than putting his foot down on the Consuls who tried to browbeat him.”