Notwithstanding all the talk and literature on the subject there is unification neither by force nor by conference. All conferences have failed. The Round. Table idea of Sir Robert has been tried, without of course the foreign attendants, and has failed several times. Once when long Shao-yi and Chu Chi-chien were the chief delegates in 1918, there was a possibility of success, but only a possibility. The failure has been attributed to the fact that delegates and not principals met. But that is only a superficial explanation: at all peace conferences delegates meet.
Unification by force has been tried by every controlling force in Peking and Canton since Yuan Shih-kai and Tsai Ao measured strength. [t has always failed. Sun Yat-sen is now trying to unify the country by force. We shall know within a fortnight with what success his plan will meet. Wu Pei-fu is ug to influence the Chibli Par by force, to fight every recalcitrant militarist until the Chihli Party dominates every crucial province. Then the others will have to obey. But what does that mean? Nothing at all, for no Thibli province to-day realy obeys Tsao Kun. No Chihli tuchun is willing to place his troops under the complete and -unquestioned control of the President. No province loyal to Tsao Kun is willing to remit the taxes to Peking which are due Peking. No Uhihli commander is willing to have his troops counted and inspected by representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Wax appointed by Tsao Kun. Then what will union means? Will it mean only a cessation of fighting or administrative unity? Surely, not the latter; perhaps the former for a time."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.