Wu Pei-fu's Scheme for a Settlement General Ww Pei-fu,—according to a telegram published in the Chinese press, has demanded that a Citizens' Convention be called immediately to settle the various outstanding questions of the country. He suggests that the Pro vincial Assemblies, and educational, commercial, literary, legal, and agricultural associations of each province should elect three representatives to make the necessary preparations. The procedure provided for in the Election Laws connected with Parliamentary elections shall be adopted, and the lists of electors for the preliminary election shall be revised and used. Each district or Hsien shall elect one or two candidates, who shall come to the provincial capital for final election. The Provincial Assembly shall elect three members who shall ce-operate with the representatives of the educational and other associations in the work of supervision. Bribery.and squeezing of any kind are' strictly forbidden, and no military man or Tuchun shall be allowed to inter-fore. The Convention shall first discuss questions regarding the division of civil and military administrations of the country, and the reduction of the standing army, and then proceed to settle all other outstanding questions between the North and the South.
The Convention is to be ay organization of the people, by the people, and for the people. The presiding officers of the various organizations shall take charge of the elections and no paid official in government service shall be permitted to officiate. Three mont shall be spent. in organizing the convention and after six months it is hoped that all the important questions will be settled.
In connexion with the above, the Shanghai Streets Union, many members of which are old M.P.'s, have sent a lengthy telegram to General Wu in which they state that the institution of such a Convention is illegal. One can hardly forbear the remark—They would.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.