A Reformed China.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 114, 3 November 1911, Page 5

A Reformed China.

A NEW CONSTITUTION. LIBERAL AND ENLIGHTENED. WORK OF TIIE ASSEMBLY. Bv Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Received 2. 11 p.m. Pekin. November 2. The Assembly, at a secret sitting demanded the appointment of Li-Yuan-Shung and Tang-Hua-Lung to hiph offices. ChangChaot-Sing's demands, which were supported by many garrisons, proposed the maintenance of the existing dynasty, with a constitution drafted by Parliament, the Throne's approval not to be necessary, as Parliament and not the Throne would initiate future constitutional changes; the naval and military to be under the Emperor's control, except when employed within the Empire, it then to be controlled by Parliamentary regulations; sentences of death not to emanate from the Throne, and arrests and imprisonments hereafter to follow the due process of the law: Parliament to appoint the Premier, Ministers, and, besides Budgets, all treaties adding to taxation or affecting national interests to be approved by Parliament before receiving the Kmperor's signature. The Assembly agreed to enforce these demands, but rejected the proposals in regard to the methods of calling Parliament together, establishing constitutional government, and also the settlement of all important questions being made subject to the army's approval. Yuan-Shih-Kai is now in full possession of Kantau, wherewith communication has been restored.

Wei-Kuang-Tao, a Hunanese, has been appointed the new Viceroy of the Hunan province. Yuan-Shaih-Kai has been for several days in communication, by an intermediary, with Lu-Juan-Sung, his former pupil. The uprising has extended to Yunan. ALLEGED FLIGHT OF EMPEROIt. PREMIER XEfiOTIATIXG FOR PEACE. Xew York, November 1. San Francisco Chinese newspapers publish a despatch from Pekin asserting that the Emperor, with the Dowager Empress, had fled, and all trace of them was lost.

Pekin, November 1

All the Ministers have resigned. Yuan-Shili-Kai has been appointed Premier, and General Yin-Chang becomes Chief of Staff. Prince Ching has been appointed President of the Privy Council, and win act as Premier until Yuan-Shih-Kai relinquishes the Com-mandership-in-Chief.

Yuan-Shih-Kai intends stopping the Imperial attacks immediately, and will negotiate for peace. He requests the appointment of an Acting-Premier. THE PROMISED CONSTITUTION. The badcr of the Chinese rebels has declared that tliev do not want a Constitution under the existing regime. Constitutional government was promised to China bv Imperial edict for the year lftl". The steps that were taken to prepare for it. and the form that it was to take, are outlined in the article. "China," in the new edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, from which the following is taken:—

An Imperial Commission, headed by Prince Tsai-Tse, was appointed in 1905. to study the administrative systems of foreign countries, with a view to the possible establishment of a representative I Government in China. The revolutionary nature of this proposal excited indignation among the adherents to the old order, and a bomb was thrown among the Commissioners as they were preparing to leave Pekin. After visiting •Japan. America, and Europe, the Commission returned to Pekin in July, lOOfi. A committee, over which Prince Ching presided, was appointed to study the Commission's report, and on Ist ScptcrnbeF following an edict \va«. issued, in which the establishment of a Parliamentary form of government was announced. at a date not fixed. To fit the country for this new form of government (the edict went on to declare), the administration must be reformed, the laws revised, education promoted, and the ] finances regulated. This edict, moreover, was but one of many edicts issued in 1000 and following years, which showed how great a break with the past was contemplated. In November, IAOO, two edicts were issued, with the object of reorganisinj the central administrative offices. Their effect was to simplify the conduct of business, many useless posts being aliolished, while an Audit Board was created to examine the national accounts. In Xovember. WOT, another edict was promulgated, stating that for the present the formation of Houses of Lords and of Commons to determine all public questions was not practicable, but that it was proposed, as a preliminary measure, to create an Imperial Assembly. At the same time a scheme of provincial councils was ordered to be prepared. A more definite step followed in IWR. when a decree (dated 27th August) announced the convocation of n Parliament in tli<- ninth year from that date.

An edict of 3rd December. IMS. reaffirm'd that of 27th Auirust. An edict of .(Ist October. lOOfi. fixed the classes from which ail Imperial Assembly (or Senate) was to bo elected, and an edict of !ltli May. 1!I10. gave the nanus of the all of whom had been nominated by the Throne The A-scmT;ly as thus constituted consisted of 2(10 members. drawn from eight classes:--(1) | Princes and nobles 0 f the Imp'rial Hons,.. ],; members: (2) Mnnchu and ( hincse nobles. 12 members-, (3) princes and nobles of dependi ncies. 14 members; <4l Imperial clansmen other than those mentioned. 1; member.-; (0) IVkin olliiials. 3-> members; |{i) eminent scholars. ]<» members: (7) cxccpt'oua! propert y-o\vi;»<r>. 10 iin mlu'r-;; (S) rrprr 1 - H<ntativ<*- of )H'ovini-ia) n--cnih]'n-. 100 members. The National A-scmbly. wbicli wa- opened by the Recent on .'!rd October. thus contained the elements of a two-chambered Parliament. The edict summoning the Assembly contained the following exhortation: 'The members should nndirstand that this assemblage of the Senate is an unprecedented undertaking in China, and will he the forerunner of the creation ot a Parliament. Thev are earne-tly desired to devote t" it their patriotism and sincerity, to ob-ervc proper order, and to fulfil their duties in representing public opinion. Thus it is hoped that our sincere wish to effect constitutional reforms in their proper order and to aim at success may be duly satisfied.